Terrorism in the Philippines

The threat of terrorism In the Philippines, notably in the southern part of the country, remains a major
challenge to our country despite the recent arrests and neutralization of key personalities involved in
terrorist activities. The region continues to be an arena for terrorist-related activities such as small-scale
training, recruitment, fund raising, place of refuge or safe haven to violent foreign jihadists or simply as a
target area for test missions for bombing operations.

The JI, the ASG and some elements of the MILF have continued to cooperate in planning and executing
bombing operations in key cities in the region. The central figures involved in these bombing plans are
bomb-specialist notably from Malaysia.

The continued presence of Dulmatin and Umar Patek followers and other foreign jihadists and their ties with the ASG
and other extremist groups emphasize the breaking of the segregation between the jihadist organizations
in the Philippines. This is also in part due to the past JI training activities in the country, which not only
united the different factions of the ASG but also brought the ASG and the MILF together. These training
activities also contributed immensely to the links developed between the ASG and the radical group of
converts to Islam, the Rajah Solaiman Movement.

Still, the ease by which militants travel back and forth also point to our porous borders. Because of this,
extremists from neighboring states continue to travel in and out of southern Philippines via various routes
and means.

ECGJ