By Melo Acuña
Lt. General Cirilito E. Sobejana, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s Western Mindanao Command (left) and Rommel Banlaoi of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research.
The Philippines must address the terror threat as extremist groups continue recruitment and propaganda activities on the internet, according to an expert.
“The threat from Al-Qaeda is returning and there’s a threat from ISIS (Islamic State) as Al-Qaeda innovates its approach. It has found a reliable territory in cyberspace,” said Rommel Banlaoi of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, during the Tapatan sa Aristocrat forum on Monday.
He said the Islamic State was maximizing the use of cyberspace to propagate the idea of an Islamic caliphate. Local groups have welcomed their presence in the Philippines, specifically in southern Philippines, he said.
Lt. General Cirilito E. Sobejana, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s Western Mindanao Command, said the military had checked the identity of the latest suicide bomber in Sulu, a female, and said to be Caucasian-looking.
The group of Hajan Sawadjaan is believed to be behind the suicide bombing, he said.
“As earlier mentioned, there are seven foreign terrorists in Western and Central Mindanao and there are 60 other foreign nationals we’re monitoring,” Sobejana said.
Banlaoi said foreign terrorists were usually welcomed by local groups, and come from Sabah in Malaysia and Manado in Indonesia. A significant number pass through the Bureau of Immigration, using budget airlines that operate in Clark, Manila and Cebu airports, he said.
Sobejana said the series of bombings from August to September this year indicated the extremist groups’ desire to make their presence felt.
Banlaoi on Monday launched his new boo, titled: “Al-Harakakatul Al-Islamiyah: Essays on the Abu Sayyaf Group, Terrorism in the Philippines from Al Qaeda to ISIS.”
Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Jr., former Notre Dame of Cotabato president, said the government should provide livelihood opportunities so that young and jobless individuals would not be attracted to extremist groups.