Philippines has no IS presence: Official

The Philippines has so far not found presence of any member of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group in the country, Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, said here Saturday.

"Perhaps there are sympathisers" of the Muslim militants here, the spokesperson said in a local radio programme, according to Xinhua.

The government has been coordinating with Muslim groups in the country to thwart threats posed by the IS, she added.

Valte admitted that the government has been taking seriously the threats by this terrorist group.

"We do not take it lightly. We don't want to have additional problem here in our country," she said in an interview with a state-run radio station.