Philippine Navy commandos aboard a gunboat patrol Lake Lanao as smoke rises where pro-Islamic group militants were making a final stand during the massive military offensive in Marawi, southern Philippines, in October 2017. Photo - AP
The Philippines must “bind together as a team” and engage in a “whole-of-government approach” to rebuilding the city of Marawi, reduced to rubble by a ferocious five-month battle to root out Islamic State-inspired militants hell-bent on establishing a Caliphate in the southern Philippines, according to a US security analyst.
“If you do not, I believe it will just foster more of the discontent that caused ISIS and other transnational non-state actors to come into an area where people are vulnerable and open to some of these extreme ideologies,” said Peter Gumataotao, director of the Hawaii-based Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies (DKI APCSS).
Gumataotao was speaking to reporters at the opening on Tuesday of a four-day workshop in Manila on countering violent extremism. It was the second workshop on “Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia” hosted by DKI APCSS, for security officials from both the military and civilian sectors. Some 70 participants from Southeast Asian countries, as well as Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand and the United States attended the seminar.
With the objective of setting up a local IS base, hundreds of Islamic militants sowed terror in the predominantly Muslim city of Marawi on Mindanao island beginning in May last year. The Philippine military responded in full force, resulting in an intense, five-month battle.
More than 350,000 people were displaced, over a thousand people were killed, most of them militants, and the city was almost totally reduced to rubble.
Most of the radical Islamist fighters belonged to the Maute Group, which quickly rose to prominence because of its allegiance to the IS and strategic alliance with local groups like the Abu Sayyaf.
Abu Sayyaf, which had been the largest terror group in the southern Philippines until the Maute Group surfaced, was formed in 1989 by Muslim separatists later inspired by al-Qaida.
Nearly five months since the military ended its offensive in Marawi, close to 14,500 individuals remain displaced and are staying in 58 evacuation centres in surrounding areas.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said “the continued spread of terrorism and the extremist group’s evolving strategies are all the more reason why we should brace ourselves and find more ways of combating them.”
More than 350,000 people were displaced, over a thousand people were killed, most of them militants, and the city was almost totally reduced to rubble.
Most of the radical Islamist fighters belonged to the Maute Group, which quickly rose to prominence because of its allegiance to the IS and strategic alliance with local groups like the Abu Sayyaf.
Abu Sayyaf, which had been the largest terror group in the southern Philippines until the Maute Group surfaced, was formed in 1989 by Muslim separatists later inspired by al-Qaida.
Nearly five months since the military ended its offensive in Marawi, close to 14,500 individuals remain displaced and are staying in 58 evacuation centres in surrounding areas.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said “the continued spread of terrorism and the extremist group’s evolving strategies are all the more reason why we should brace ourselves and find more ways of combating them.”
Mary Markovinovic, public affairs officer of DKI APCSS, told Kyodo News after the workshop ended that “Marawi was a wake-up call for these other nations in the region because they realise that they are vulnerable too.”
Other cases of violent extremism that have occurred in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia were discussed during the workshop, Markovinovic said.
Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla of the Philippine military spoke on the last day of the workshop, emphasising “that the physical reconstruction” of Marawi “would be the easy part,” while the harder part will be devising ways to prevent “the repeat of another one.”
“It also opens up for the need for more cooperative engagements with all countries since the fight against terrorism is no longer confined to one nation, but affects everyone globally,” said Padilla, who served as military spokesman at the height of the Marawi crisis.
In a statement issued after the workshop ended, Gumataotao said the participants discussed vulnerabilities and prevention actions; improved interoperability; building upon the existing trilateral agreement of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia; and sharing of best practices and intelligence information.
“The workshop definitely created a greater understanding among participants of the challenges we all face, and opportunities for strengthening collaborative regional actions against violent extremism,” Gumataotao said.
Other cases of violent extremism that have occurred in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia were discussed during the workshop, Markovinovic said.
Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla of the Philippine military spoke on the last day of the workshop, emphasising “that the physical reconstruction” of Marawi “would be the easy part,” while the harder part will be devising ways to prevent “the repeat of another one.”
“It also opens up for the need for more cooperative engagements with all countries since the fight against terrorism is no longer confined to one nation, but affects everyone globally,” said Padilla, who served as military spokesman at the height of the Marawi crisis.
In a statement issued after the workshop ended, Gumataotao said the participants discussed vulnerabilities and prevention actions; improved interoperability; building upon the existing trilateral agreement of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia; and sharing of best practices and intelligence information.
“The workshop definitely created a greater understanding among participants of the challenges we all face, and opportunities for strengthening collaborative regional actions against violent extremism,” Gumataotao said.
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