REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A lawmaker has warned the government of potential dangers from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which has established a number of cells in the country.

Indonesian military chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has said ISIS cells have been detected in 16 locations, which could pose a potential danger to the country.

Bobby Rizaldi of the Commission I of the House of Representatives supported the political decision of President Joko Widodo to involve the military (TNI) to uproot any ISIS cells in the country.

"In the context of the present situation a political decision of President is need to involve to prevent ISIS from expanding its cells in the country," the Golkar party politician said here on Saturday.

ISIS case is not an ordinary crime that should be handled only by police but it is a plot against the existence of the state, he said, adding, therefore, in line with the point 2 of Chapter 7 of the Law No. 34 of 2004 on TNI, the president should immediately order TNI to move.

"Certainly the existence of the cells need to be confirmed legally," he said.

He said the office of the Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs, police and the TNI should seriously address the issue.

Coordination between the related agencies is necessary to ensure that the steps to be taken is correct, not breaking any law, he said.

Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said steps should be taken immediately to break the cells before they grow to become more dangerous.

"If we did not move fast they would grow to be more dangerous," the general said here last Thursday.

He said ISIS cells have been detected in Bima of West Nusa Tenggara, Central Java and East Java.

"They are sleeping cells that could be awake any time. One indication that they are active is that all terror bombings were always found to have links to ISIS," he said.

He said TNI has taken steps to prevent infiltration of ISIS into Indonesia via small outer islands such as the islands of Marore, Miangas, Tahuna, and Kalawu.

He said TNI has moved from the air, land and sea to intercept any attempt by Islamic militants in southern Philippines to cross the border to Indonesia.

The militants affiliated to ISIS are fighting the Philippines government military that are seeking to drive the Islamic rebels from Marawi, a city in southern Philippines.

The militants have occupied Marawi since last month, forcing Manila to send larger troops to that city.

Indonesian military authorities said the militants might flee the Philippines and were forced to cross the border to Indonesia.

The Indonesian government has been worried that the Marawi take over by the militants might inspire ISIS sympathizers in Indonesia.

General Gatot said Indonesia has to seriously watch developments in Marawi, which ISIS apparently wants to make its base to spread its control in Southeast Asia.

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