Islamic State-East Asia still deadliest terror threat in Philippines – report

MANILA, Philippines — The Islamic State (IS)-East Asia remained the deadliest terrorist threat in the Philippines, with the Southeast Asian country a target destination for foreign terrorist fighters (FTF) from Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the US Department of State’s latest annual country report on terrorism.

The 2021 Country Reports on Terrorism identified the IS-East Asia factions as active, including Daulah Islamiya-Lanao (aka Maute group), Daulah Islamiya-Maguindanao, Daulah Islamiya-Soccsksargen in South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City, IS-aligned elements of Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Sulu, IS-aligned elements of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. 

“IS-East Asia remained the deadliest terrorist threat in the Philippines, continuing to recruit, fund raise and stage attacks on security forces and civilians alike,” the report said. “The Philippines remained a destination for FTFs from Indonesia and Malaysia.”

The report said the Philippine government placed significant resources toward countering threats from terrorist groups that operate primarily in the country’s South. Philippine military forces remained engaged in counterterrorism operations. 

The Philippine military, law enforcement and judicial authorities participated in numerous US capacity-building programs and used the training and equipment they received to prevent and respond to terrorist incidents. 

The report also identified the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) that continued attacks on both security forces and civilians.

“The government intensified actions against CPP/NPA and IS-East Asia through military operations and legal actions to cut off financing,” the report said.

The report noted that human rights organizations continued to raise concerns over security forces’ “red tagging” of civil society advocates and human rights defenders as communists or terrorists or both, which has led to threats, harassment and killings of red-tagged individuals. 

The government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including strict travel regulations, limited the ability of terrorist groups to travel and conduct operations. – Emmanuel Tupas