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Mindanao, 'New land of jihad' — analyst
The Islamic State group (ISIS) sees Mindanao as the “New land of jihad” according to a defense security analyst from the Philippine Institute for Peace Violence and Terrorism Research.
”Ito ang tingin ng ISIS sa Mindanao at safe haven ng mga foreign terrorist fighters,” says Professor Rommel Banlaoi.
He added that ISIS considers Mindanao a “ fertile ground” because of the Moro rebellion that exists even though the law on the creation of a Bangsamoro political entity, the Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL, was passed this year.
Banlaoi also agreed with a report of the United Nations that says affiliates of the Islamic State in the Philippines “are cash rich and growing in membership” despite heavy losses it suffered in 2017.
After the Marawi city siege, Banlaoi said the surviving leaders of the Maute group found an opportunity to recruit new followers from mostly poor communities in Mindanao and as well as generate funds.
Based on IS Publications, the terror group has officially declared Mindanao as Wilayah East Asia or ISIS East Asian province.
“Sa lahat ng mga discussion nila sa telegram, sa mga items na nilalathala ng Amaq News Agency at iba pang pahayag ng ISIS, ang description nila sa mga followers nila sa Mindanao ay bahagi ng East Asia Wilayah,” Banlaoi said.
The Amaq News Agency is a news outlet linked to the ISIS group.
Three men are now considered as the “leaders” of the Wilayah East Asia according to studies conducted by the Philippine Institute for Peace Violence and Terrorism Research.
"LEADERS"
These are “Abu Toraype,” the former vice chairman of military affairs of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who later left the BIFF and pledged his allegiance to ISIS.
The BIFF is a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is a Muslim separatist group.
Another alleged leader is a certain “Abu Dar,” who is considered as the leader of the remnants of the Maute group, a local terror group that attacked Marawi City on May 23, 2017 and prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare the entire island of Mindanao under martial rule. The Maute group was engaged by government security forces in a gun battle that lasted for five months.
The third leader was identified as “Puruji Indama,” the Abu sayaff leader from Basilan who is allegedly behind the Lamitan bombing a few weeks ago in which 10 people were killed.
Banlaoi says the funds coming in that are allotted for the support of the Wilayah East Asia in Mindanao were previously coursed through the bank accounts of some OFWs.
But now the foreign supporters of IS have found a way to send cash to the Philippines through the “dark web.”
According to Banlaoi, “Lately, nagkakaron na sila ng huge transfer using what we call dark web, part 'yan ng money laundering scheme nila na meron silang paraan ng pag tra-transfer ng pera sa pamamagitan ng illicit means at 'yun ang iniimbestigahan ng pamahalaan.”
AFP MONITORING
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), for its parts, says they have been monitoring the reports of IS recruitment in Mindanao.
“To some degree the report is true, but we have already actions being taken on the ground para mahinto ito and we are gaining grounds on them,” says Colonel Noel J. Detoyato, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office.
Because of the thorough and vigilant operations of the military, the AFP was able to prevent recruitment efforts by terror groups and acts of terrorism in Mindanao.
One example, according to Colonel Detoyato, was the arrest of an ISIS affiliate member who tried to spread terrorist activities in General Santos city.
According to Colonel Detoyato,“We are monitoring the recruitment they are doing. Most of them have already been prevented, they are trying to get a foothold on other places.”
The AFP admits that international terror groups use money to lure new recruits.
“They use money to bait them and into supporting their cause that’s why they need cash, and makikita natin 'yung paper trail ng kanilang cash because one of the 10 who planned the Marawi incident was able to get out of Marawi 'yun 'yung ginagamit niya ngayon,” says Detoyato.
In the end, according to the AFP, they are on the “right track” in stopping these international terror groups.
“We have already arrested so many of their members after the Marawi incident 'yun 'yung mga nagre-recruit so we are confident that we are on the trail and we are on the right track to stop them,” Detoyato said. — BAP, GMA News
