Why Terrorism considered as a major threat in the Philippines | Study notes Criminal Justice

Why Terrorism considered as a major threat in our country?

Terrorism has two basic trends:

1. Terrorist ‘capacity building' initiatives include providing access to radical

technologies, funding, and technology, which is how the Islamic State of Iraq and

Syria (ISIS) has fast become an international phenomenon.

2. Terrorist ideas, influence, and support are in high demand in badly governed

areas (failed states) as well as within countries where pockets of poverty, social

injustice fester and destroy social cohesiveness.

Growing inequality and a ‘left behind' narrative for minorities can attract terrorist

recruiters. This concept explains why terrorism can spread to both rich and poor

countries.

Terrorism is a nebulous notion with no uniform meaning. Use or threat of violence

against persons or property, spreading fear and intimidating a larger audience—beyond

the immediate victims—to achieve a political or ideological goal.

Insurgencies by both communist nationalists and Islamic separatists have wrought

havoc in the Philippines, particularly on Mindanao. There have been several explosions,

assassinations, kidnapping attempts and executions.

Terrorist attacks, killings, kidnapping attempts, and executions have killed thousands of

Filipinos. Foreigners, especially Western missionaries and tourists, have been

kidnapped and executed in the Philippines. For example, in May 2001, the Islamic

separatist Abu Sayyaf Group murdered an American hostage who had not paid the

requested ransom. ASG militants beheaded John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, respectively,

in April and June 2016. ASG kidnapped a German doctor and his partner aboard a

yacht between Malaysia and the Philippines in September 2014. Unless Germany paid

a ransom and stopped supporting US-led airstrikes against ISIS, ASG threatened to

execute the captives. The two captives were eventually freed.

The Philippine government considers the CPP and its military component, the New

People's Army (NPA), a major threat to domestic security. Unlike the Islamic fanatics

who are mostly centered in Mindanao, the NPA has members all around the country,

including Manila. The NPA was the “largest individual group” accused of being behind

terrorist incidents in the Philippines, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2014. The

US labeled the CPP and NPA as foreign terrorist organizations on August 9, 2002.

The Philippine military and police have struggled against extremists. The issues are

capacity, coordination, and geographic barriers. However, the government has worked

to restructure and reinforce counterterrorism procedures with the US and its ASEAN

neighbors. The Philippines has improved its military and economic capabilities to

contain violent extremist groups including the NPA, ASG, and Jemaah Islamiyah.

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Why Terrorism considered as a major threat in our country? Terrorism has two basic trends:

Terrorist ‘capacity building' initiatives include providing access to radical technologies, funding, and technology, which is how the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has fast become an international phenomenon.
Terrorist ideas, influence, and support are in high demand in badly governed areas (failed states) as well as within countries where pockets of poverty, social injustice fester and destroy social cohesiveness. Growing inequality and a ‘left behind' narrative for minorities can attract terrorist recruiters. This concept explains why terrorism can spread to both rich and poor countries. Terrorism is a nebulous notion with no uniform meaning. Use or threat of violence against persons or property, spreading fear and intimidating a larger audience—beyond the immediate victims—to achieve a political or ideological goal. Insurgencies by both communist nationalists and Islamic separatists have wrought havoc in the Philippines, particularly on Mindanao. There have been several explosions, assassinations, kidnapping attempts and executions. Terrorist attacks, killings, kidnapping attempts, and executions have killed thousands of Filipinos. Foreigners, especially Western missionaries and tourists, have been kidnapped and executed in the Philippines. For example, in May 2001, the Islamic separatist Abu Sayyaf Group murdered an American hostage who had not paid the requested ransom. ASG militants beheaded John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, respectively, in April and June 2016. ASG kidnapped a German doctor and his partner aboard a yacht between Malaysia and the Philippines in September 2014. Unless Germany paid a ransom and stopped supporting US-led airstrikes against ISIS, ASG threatened to execute the captives. The two captives were eventually freed. The Philippine government considers the CPP and its military component, the New People's Army (NPA), a major threat to domestic security. Unlike the Islamic fanatics who are mostly centered in Mindanao, the NPA has members all around the country, including Manila. The NPA was the “largest individual group” accused of being behind terrorist incidents in the Philippines, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2014. The US labeled the CPP and NPA as foreign terrorist organizations on August 9, 2002. The Philippine military and police have struggled against extremists. The issues are capacity, coordination, and geographic barriers. However, the government has worked to restructure and reinforce counterterrorism procedures with the US and its ASEAN neighbors. The Philippines has improved its military and economic capabilities to contain violent extremist groups including the NPA, ASG, and Jemaah Islamiyah.

Since the 1970s, Islamists and communist separatists have planned and conducted several attacks around the Philippines, with the deadliest on Mindanao. Between 1969 and 2010, the Philippines was subjected to around 593 attacks of varied degrees, according to the Database of Worldwide Terrorism Incidents. From 2000 through 2007, Islamic militants bombed Filipino citizens, killing 400 and injuring over a thousand. In over 40 years of conflict with the government, leftist radicals have killed an estimated 120,000 fatalities. Associated Press estimated in November 2016 that the NPA had 3,800 guerillas active in the first half of 2016. The terrorist threat in the Philippines has evolved from homicides, kidnappings, and armed attacks to a fatal increase in suicide bombers in recent years. Six suicide bombers struck the country between July 2018 and November 2019, with signs of more planned but thwarted. On May 8, 2021, members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) occupied the town market in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, forcing families to leave. A local officer then revealed that only 20 militants invaded the area. Despite a brief gunfight, no one was hurt or property damaged. A Philippine military force drove the BIFF insurgents out of town. On May 11, government soldiers confronted the gang in Buluan, killing five BIFF terrorists. On the same day, President Duterte visited Maguindanao, urging local officials to help him defeat terrorism in the province. He said BIFF's “full-blown terrorism” hampered peace. Between January 2020 and December 2020, the AFP captured or killed 7,000 New People's Army (NPA) rebels (CPP). According to then-AFP chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, 187 ASG militants, 339 Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) members, and 61 Maute terrorists were killed within the same period. Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) revealed on July 8, 2021 that military operations had killed approximately 300 terrorists in the preceding six months—114 ASG fighters, 104 BIFF members, 11 high-value targets, and 64 New People's Army members (NPA).

motivation. For example, typical organized criminals accrue profits to fund their illegal activity and to support their own interests, whereas criminal-political organizations accrue revenues to ensure the continuation of their political movements. Gender-Selective Terrorism: Terrorism directed against either men or women in an enemy population based on their gender identity or expression. Because males are regarded to be a threat as potential soldiers or sources of dissent, systematic violence is focused towards them. A hostile group's cultural identity is destroyed or terrorized into submission when systematic violence is aimed towards its women.

Why Terrorism considered as a major threat in the Philippines, Study notes of Criminal Justice

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