Conclusion on Extremism

Over the years, government security forces have managed to crack down on several
terrorist networks such as Jemaah Islamiyah, Al Qaeda and now, ISIS together with
their affiliated local terrorist groups. But in spite of the relentless efforts by authorities,
these extremist groups still pose a significant threat in our national security. Their
ideologies are still being propagated whether online or offline and are deeply
entrenched in the minds of their supporters and sympathizers. Even the establishment
of a future BARMM does not guarantee the elimination of the threat of violent
extremism. Total eradication of the ideology is almost impossible to achieve. It can only
be weakened but not totally eradicated. ISIS has shown that their local affiliates can
also implement their own bombings in Cotabato, Davao and other major cities in
Mindanao. Even the current implementation of Martial Law has not deterred these
terrorist attacks as demonstrated by the deadly Jolo Cathedral bombings. Part of this
could be attributed to the lapses in our security measures which only motivate a
determined terrorist to carry out his or her sinister plot of destroying or even killing
innocent lives. The ISIS threat in Southeast Asia particularly in southern Philippines will
continue to evolve into a more daring and sophisticated terrorist organization as
manifested in the recent Jolo bombings. The intermarriage of foreign extremists to our
local women may just add to this sophistication that would eventually change the
dynamics of suicide bombings in the country to one that would be carried out by
children and women of mixed-culture families. It would be a grave mistake to dismiss
that suicide bombing will never become part of the local terrorists’ “norms” since suicide
per se is not in the Filipino’s vocabulary. But if we have families where women and
children are radicalized by foreign extremists who are now part of their family circle,
then it will not be far-fetched that we will have suicide bombings in the future that will be
carried out by homegrown jihadists.

Furthermore, the future of violent extremism in the Philippines will likely resemble its
past with divided groups of militants dispersing in their respective areas of operation.
These foreign extremist groups and their local terrorist affiliates will also continue to
mobilize a sustained transnational campaign of violence as the numbers of their recruits
continue to grow. In their fragmented and cell structure, ISIS-inspired local terror groups
could become more dangerous and challenging for government security forces as its
splinter groups threaten renewed and heightened violence throughout the Region. With
foreign fighters making its way into southern Philippines in growing numbers, the next
five-year period could be very well characterized by a rise in terrorist attacks especially
in key cities of the country unless security forces will be able to detect and deter terrorist
plans. Lastly, as along as Wahhabi Salafism, the most ultra-conservative ideology of
Islam exists and espoused by many Sunni Muslims around the world including Filipino
Muslims, a new brand of extremist group will just emerge in the future.