JAKARTA, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian national police has revealed that dozens of Indonesian citizens have joined the activities of terrorist groups in the southern Philippines, indicating a linkage of militant cells in the two neighboring countries.
National police spokesman Setyo Wasisto disclosed on Friday that a total of 38 Indonesian nationals had involved in the militant activities in Marawi city of the southern Philippines.
"They have taken parts in terrorist activities there. They comprise 37 men and 1 woman," he said at the national police headquarters.
The spokesman explained that 4 out of the 38 people already died and 12 others had been deported to Indonesia.
"So there are still 22 Indonesian citizens actively join the militant groups' activities there," Wasisto added.
Previously, Indonesian security authority has revealed that the linkage of the militant groups in the southern Philippines with those in Indonesia was in the form of arms supply.
Then spokesman disclosed that currently, the global IS group is building up a base in the southern Philippines.
