MANILA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines called on Thursday for stronger international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying the victories against Islamic State (IS) in Mosul, Raqqa and Marawi does not mean the group no longer poses a serious threat to the world.
"The defeat suffered by the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria, and the Philippines does not mean the fight is over," Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.
Cayetano's statement came in the wake of an IS-inspired terrorist attack in New York killed eight people and seriously injured at least 12 others.
Cayetano strongly condemned the truck attack in Manhattan on Wednesday, which authorities said was carried out by an IS-inspired sympathizer from Uzbekistan.
Cayetano also expressed his sympathies to the families of the victims.
"The terrorist attacks in New York and other places abroad during the past several weeks tell us the threat remains real," Cayetano said, calling on the international community to intensify its efforts in going after Islamic State and its affiliate organizations around the world.
Cayetano said the fight against terrorism is a key priority of President Rodrigo Duterte and is among the issues that will be discussed in the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and related meetings to be held in Manila this month.
"The Philippines is more than ready to do its share in helping make the world a safer place," Cayetano said.
He said Manila is looking forward to cooperating with other countries, particularly in intelligence sharing and capacity-building as part of the country's counterterrorism efforts.
Cayetano also expressed his appreciation to the United States, Australia, China, Russia and other countries for the assistance extended to the Philippines during the campaign to liberate Marawi from IS-funded militants.
The five-month war in Marawi in the southern Philippines claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, including more than 900 extremists and 165 soldiers and policemen. The conflict, which ruined the city, also displaced more than 400,000 residents.
