MANILA, Philippines —With Islamic State
affiliates active in the country, the Philippines remained a refuge for foreign
terrorist fighters from Indonesia and Malaysia and a potential destination for
those fleeing Syria and Iraq, according to the latest annual country report on
terrorism of the US Department of State.
The Country Reports on Terrorism 2018 noted
that Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) affiliates active in the
Philippines in 2018 included parts of the Abu Sayyaf, Maute group, Ansar
al-Khalifa Philippines (AKP) and elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters (BIFF).
The report said groups affiliated with
ISIS-Philippines attempted to recover from losses sustained in the 2017 Marawi
siege, recruiting and training new members and staging attacks with improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) and small arms, and targeting security forces and
civilians.
“Government counterterrorism operations
thwarted these attempts to occupy territory in the Philippines. Overall,
terrorist incidents declined compared with 2017,” the report said. The report
noted that “terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces continued,
though at a slower pace than the previous year.”
ISIS claimed that a German-Moroccan
terrorist carried out a July 31 suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive
device attack in Lamitan, Basilan. The government linked the attack, which
killed 10 people, to the Abu Sayyaf. It blamed radical factions of the BIFF,
AKP and remnants of the Maute for other terrorist attacks in Western Mindanao.
The government held the BIFF responsible
for IED attacks on civilian targets in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Aug. 28 and
Sept. 2 that collectively killed six people and wounded more than 40. The Abu
Sayyaf continued terrorist activities in the Sulu archipelago, though
defections from the group increased and Philippine media observed that
kidnap-for-ransom operations declined.
Since defeating groups affiliated with ISIS
at the siege of Marawi in 2017, the Philippine government has closely tracked
terrorist groups that continue to operate in some areas, particularly in
southern Philippines.
In 2018, the report said the government
further deepened close counterterrorism cooperation with the United States,
enhancing military and law enforcement efforts to address the full spectrum of
terrorist threats. The Philippine government acknowledged threats from
terrorist groups affiliated with ISIS and welcomed assistance from the US and
other international partners. In 2018, the Philippines joined the Global Coalition
to Defeat ISIS.
The Philippine government and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front made progress toward political settlement of
long-running insurgencies. In July, the Congress passed and President Duterte
signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (also called the Bangsamoro Basic Law), to
implement the previous administration’s peace agreement with the MILF.
Sumber: The Philippine Star – 04 NOV 2019
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