Senior Army officers had a gathering recently at headquarters in Taguig City for a two-day conference to address the country’s biggest security concerns: the threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
The rise of terrorism and the spread of violent extremism have made our current security situation a very complex issue that demands our utmost attention. It has become the country’s top security concern, which the Armed Forces of the Philippines and even the armed forces of other countries are busy preparing to defeat.
Take for example Marawi City. It was the site of a five-month clash between government forces and Islamic State-inspired terrorists, an eye-opener on the increasing threat of terrorism.
The Marawi siege started on May 23 last year when government forces tried to serve a warrant for the arrest of Isnilon Hapilon, the touted leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Southeast Asia. The service of the warrant triggered a bloody conflict between government forces and IS-linked Maute fighters which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao on the same day. The fighting lasted five months and left dead at least 168 security forces, over 900 Maute fighters, and at least 45 civilians.
In the aftermath Marawi City was left in ruins with more than 300,000 people displaced by the fighting. It was the country’s worst security crisis and the longest urban conflict in recent years.
It was a classic example of how terrorism tried to infiltrate a nation. However, it was a resounding victory in liberating the city of Marawi from the hands of terrorists. I hope that not only ASEAN but also all regional blocs will defeat the enemy. Terrorism must not be allowed to ruin the state.
We need to partner-up and collaborate with stakeholders, other agencies and the international community in countering terrorism. Terrorism has been evolving through time. It has grown into a beast, tearing down transnational borders and continuously expanding its reach.
As Filipinos, we need to formulate innovations and strategies that will effectively address these emerging challenges. The government cannot work alone. All of us are targets of emerging threats. Thus, we need to work hand-in-hand with other countries. – Jumel Estrañero, Defense Research Analyst and College Faculty