MANILA, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) condemned the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and vowed to stop the spread of its " virus " into the country, AFP reported.

The MILF portrayed its own moderate leadership as vital to stopping ISIS's savage ideology from infecting the southern Muslim regions.

After Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) recently vowed allegiance to ISIS, some politicians expressed concern that these groups might be sending recruits to fight in the Middle East.

"For us, the threat is not in the two groups' joining (ISIS). Their number(s) (are) too tiny to be felt and make a difference," the MILF said in an editorial. "The threat really comes from the extremism espouse(d) by (ISIS). Ideas are contagious and infectious."