MANILA, Philippines -- Foreign jihadists, believed to be Syrian, have allegedly established a terror cell in Bataan province, a police intelligence officer said on Saturday.
The source, who is based in Camp Crame and has provided reliable information in the past on condition he not be identified, said the foreigners had just come from training militants in Cotabato in bomb making.
"They have established a cell there in Bataan," the intelligence officer said. "What's important here is to locate the Syrians … where are they now."
If the source’s information is accurate, the Bataan group would be at least the third alleged terrorist cell monitored to have been established ahead of the visit of Pope Francis to the country from January 15 to 19 next year, although the Philippine National Police has repeatedly said it has not monitored any specific threat to the pontiff.