The Philippines is the only country in the world which is the fight against terrorism on three different fronts - communism, secessionism and Islam--all at the same time. Belonging to these fronts terrorist threat have different aspirations and have varied ideological convictions, but espousing similar violent methods to achieve its ultimate cause.
Communist groups that you want to change the social and political fabric of the Philippines of capitalism to communism through protracted armed revolution. On the other hand, the secessionist groups want to secede from the Manila Government and establish an independent State on Mindanao. The third front - Islamic groups - is a mixture of local and transnational terrorists dedicated to create a Pan-Islamic State in Southeast Asia.
Belonging to the Communist front terrorist groups are the Communist Party of the army of the peoples of the Philippines and new (CPP/NPA) and its hit squads urban, the Sparrow (its) units and the original Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) - now known as the national partisan Squadron (NPS). Added to these groups of communist terror are the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan of the Marxist-Leninist party of the Philippines and the revolutionary proletarian Boncayao Brigade of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Mangagawa ejército-Alex ng Pilipinas. The CPP/NPA and ABB are listed in the list of foreign terrorists (FTO) of the United States Government Organization.
The its and ABB gained notoriety through assassinations of military and police personnel, including civilians who tagged as reactionary and fascist. One of his infamous murders was the murder of Colonel Nick Rowe of the joint US military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) in December 1989, while the American was on his way to the JUSMAG headquarters in Quezon City.
Secessionist groups are composed by the Moro Liberation Front Misuari Breakaway national group (MNLF-MBG) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). These groups do not see eye to eye, each has their own bets in their struggle against the Government in Manila. During the heyday of skirmishes with the armed forces of the Philippines in the 1970s, these groups gained the support of the powerful organization of Islamic countries in particular of Libya.
The members of the MNLF-MBG and MILF hard core participating in political assassinations and Christians, fires, kidnappings and bombing public places.
On the other hand, the Islamic Front is composed of the local Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), group of terror based on Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the network of Al Qaeda (AQ). These groups of three terror that work hand in hand are in the FTO list as well.
The spate of attacks and kidnapping activities perpetrated by ASG in recent years deteriorates the situation of peace and order in Mindanao and Metro Manila. Until now, the worst act of terror carried out by ASG was the firebombing of a ferry passengers at Manila Bay in February 2003 that killed more than 100 people. The so-called "Valentine's day" attacks in 2005 in General Santos City, Davao City, and Makati City may not be as deadly as the Super Ferry attack; However, the way in which were made by ASG denotes a grim signature of the operations of Al - Qaida style attacks in Madrid on 11 March 2004 and the London bombings on July 7, 2005.
The JI and AQ actively spread terror in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia - this author called the "triangle of Terror" due to its geographical location. In this regard, the Philippine Government needs the cooperation of its neighbours in the South to contain widespread AQ network activities and the JI members in the country.
JI has a direct connection with the MILF and ASG through links operational, financial and training. A member of JI captured Indonesian called Rohmat @ Zaki revealed that JI channeled P100, 000 to ASG leaders, who in turn channeled money leader MILF Abu Basit to finance activities of bombings in Mindanao is carried out by JI, Assistant Secretary-General and MILF members sometime in March 2005.
Destabilization plan did not materialize under the plans, but the revelation by the JI leader strongly revealed the close association with the ASG and the MILF JI terror group. The operational links between JI and ASG rise the war on terror in the Philippines to the next level. Philippine Government officials believed that the JI activities in the country has complete blessings of the operational command of AQ.
The Philippine Government also needed to ensure the cooperation of the United States and the Australia Government that have economic and security interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The Americans, this is a breakthrough containment of terrorists in the country in the third world to avoid a repeat of another project Bojinka; the Australians, this will prevent the spread of terrorism in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia to Oceania.
The influx of foreign terrorists in Mindanao and its association with local terror groups constitutes a serious threat to the national security that needs immediate and clear response from the Government.
It is important to note that the Government of the Philippines has been fighting terrorism for approximately four decades, still has not won total control of the security situation in the country. Taking into account the experience gained in the long years of struggle against terrorism, the police and military forces must have decimated the above-mentioned terrorist organizations and could have succeeded in establishing peace and order in the country. However, the current status of internal security in the entire archipelago dictates otherwise.
The regular units of the CPP/NPA along with squadrons of success in urban and rural areas remain forces to count with in Luzon and Visayas and Mindanao - the three main islands in the Philippines. The MILF, MNLF-MBG and ASG are actively participate, police and military forces in Mindanao. Muslim ties operational of the JI terror group and the AQ network with their counterparts premises are growing stronger as the days pass, and along with the ASG, are able to carry out terror activities in Metro Manila.
The probability to neutralize or minimize terrorism in Philippines is great depending on the political will of the incumbent Administration to make this happen. A warm approach will only strengthen the Communists, cause secessionists and the Islamists to boost its policy and religious.
The Philippine Government cannot stop terrorism solely by an independent police or military action. The accompaniment of an efficient and effective anti-terrorist program supported by political will, legislative solutions and legal proceedings, which are the best components to win the war on terror is necessary.
Jos. Ilagan