Category Archives: Philippines

The Department of Defense Almost Gets it Right on Jihad

1 OctpmThu, 17 Oct 2019 15:09:14 -06002019-10-17T15:09:14-06:0003 2009 – 15:09

posted by Christopher W. Holton

The news has been dominated recently by the withdrawal of U.S. special operations advisers from northern Syria ahead of the Turkish invasion of the region.

Those advisers were primarily charged with training and assisting indigenous forces in battling Islamic State jihadists, who, despite reports to the contrary, are still very much active in the area.

The Department of Defense released a statement emphasizing that the withdrawal does not mean that U.S. forces have abandoned the fight against the Islamic State:

U.S. Will Continue Defeat-ISIS Campaign, Official Says

The United States will continue its campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria from outside Syria, said a senior defense official…

“The Defeat-ISIS campaign will continue,” the official said. “The enduring defeat of ISIS remains one of our top security priorities. We have significant assets and personnel as well as coalition capabilities throughout the region that will continue to prosecute that campaign.”

Here is the most important part of the DOD statement. I don’t agree with the terminology, but the substance is important:

It is important to remember that ISIS is not just a Middle East/Central Asia phenomenon. The terror group is attempting to foment extremism in many other areas including Somalia, Niger, Southeast Asia, the Philippines and elsewhere.

This statement is important because it acknowledges the fact (without coming right out and saying so) that we are in a global jihadist insurgency. The Islamic State was not defeated when its caliphate was rolled up in Syria and Iraq. Its affiliates operate in West Africa, East Africa, Southeast Asia (most likely referring to Thailand), the Philippines (where just a few years ago ISIS took over an entire medium-sized city for months) and elsewhere.

What is meant by “elsewhere?”

We can’t be sure what DOD means by this, but there is no doubt that the Islamic State has sympathizers and operatives throughout Europe and here in the USA. Periodically we read of plots, attacks and arrests. Mostly our media has relegated these reports to the “back pages” of the news, in my opinion because they seek to downplay the threat because it doesn’t resonate for Leftist politicians most of the media covertly support.

https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1990196/us-will-continue-defeat-isis-campaign-official-says/

By terrortrends | Also posted in Africa, Caliphate, ISIS, Islamic State, Niger, Syria, Turkey, West Africa | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

The latest attack in the jihad insurgency in the Philippines

1 MaramSat, 17 Mar 2018 11:42:50 -06002018-03-17T11:42:50-06:0011 2009 – 11:42

posted by Christopher Holton

We have long reported on TerrorTrendsBulletin about two theaters in the global Jihadist insurgency that have gone largely ignored: Thailand and the Philippines.

The Philippines in particular have become one of the central theaters in this world war with both Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates active with violent attacks.

There is also know shortage of local jihadist groups as well. One of those was responsible for the latest attack on the Philippines…

Islamic militants bombed an Army detachment in Shariff Aguak town Friday night, wounding a soldier on duty and a bystander.

Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello of the Maguindanao provincial police said Saturday blast victims Kamarudin Malang and Corporal Ebrahim Meto of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion are now confined in a hospital.

Local officials have pointed to the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters as responsible for the attack.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/03/17/1797721/2-hurt-biff-bombing

By terrortrends | Also posted in Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Jihad, Terrorist attack | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Video Footage of Philippine Military Fighting the Islamic State

1 JunpmMon, 12 Jun 2017 13:11:18 -06002017-06-12T13:11:18-06:0001 2009 – 13:11

posted by Christopher W. Holton

This serves as a good reminder that we are in a world war. Western political leaders don’t want to admit that the war exists, but the 200,000 residents of the Philippine city of Marawi know all too well about the war.

The Islamic State seized control of their city more than two weeks ago and this video illustrates the degree to which the Philippine military is going to battle against the Jihadists in their country…

It seems to us that our grandfathers did not liberate the Philippines from Japanese imperialism from 1944 to 1945 only to have Jihadists seize control and impose their barbaric way of life on the good and brave people of the Philippines.

By terrortrends | Also posted in Islamic State, Jihad, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

More Information Emerges on Foreign Jihadi Fighters in the Philippines

1 JunpmThu, 01 Jun 2017 17:37:36 -06002017-06-01T17:37:36-06:0005 2009 – 17:37

MusaCerantonio-thumb-560x354-3352

by Christopher W. Holton

A couple of years ago the Philippine government THOUGHT that they were making progress in ending the long-raging Islamic insurgency on Mindanao.

Clearly, efforts to negotiate a truce with Jihadists there did not work out so well.

Entering into truces with Jihadis is never a good idea for reasons based on Islamic doctrine but in this case, the insurgency reignited for other reasons as well.

Just a few years ago the players in the Jihadist insurgency were the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MIF), Abu Sayaff, Jemaah Islamiyah, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Then something significant happened: in the summer of 2014, at least a section of Abu Sayyaf pledged allegiance to the Islamic State:

https://terrortrendsbulletin.com/2014/08/04/abu-sayyaf-joins-the-islamic-state/

Now, in 2017, violent Jihad in the Philippines has escalated to the point that Islamic State Jihadis were able to seize a city of 200,000 for the better part of a week.

The biggest aspect of this development is the revelation that there are foreign fighters involved in the fighting in the Philippines. In fact, given the geographic distribution of the reported foreign fighters, as well as the intensity of the fighting there over the past 10 days, one has to consider that it is very possible that the Islamic State has set its sights on the Philippines as the next theater in the global Jihadist insurgency.

“Indonesians, Malaysians, Pakistanis, Saudis, Chechens, Yemenis, Indians, Moroccans, and Turks have been identified among the militants…”

http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/01/philippines-becomes-hotbed-for-isis-activity-as-foreign-jihadis-join-the-fight/

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-militants-foreigners-idUSKBN18Q0OO

Bangsamoro-Islamic-Freedom-Fighters-IP

 

 

By terrortrends | Also posted in Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Caliphate, ISIS, Islamic State, Jemaah Islamiyah, Jihad, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Abu Sayyaf Beheads Captain of Philippine Fishing Vessel

1 AprpmMon, 17 Apr 2017 14:28:57 -06002017-04-17T14:28:57-06:0002 2009 – 14:28
Abu Sayyaf most wanted poster

Abu Sayyaf Most Wanted

 

posted by Christopher W. Holton

Philippine officials reported Monday that fighters with the terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf have beheaded a fisherman, Noel Besconde, who was taken hostage during the hijacking of the Ramona 2 late last year. Besconde was the vessel’s captain.

Unlike Abu Sayyaf’s last four hostage beheadings, which the group carried out when ransom deadlines passed, the killing appeared to be motivated by the need for mobility. “The reason why he was beheaded is that he was delaying their movement,” said Brigadier-General Cirilito Sobejana.

http://maritime-executive.com/article/abu-sayyaf-beheads-fishing-vessels-captain

 

By terrortrends | Also posted in Abu Sayyaf, beheadings, Hostage taking, Kidnapping & Hostage-taking, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Islamic State Jihadists Surging into the Philippines

1 DecpmSat, 10 Dec 2016 16:24:53 -06002016-12-10T16:24:53-06:0004 2009 – 16:24

philippines-mindanao-map

posted by Christopher W. Holton

The Islamic insurgency in the southern Philippines is taking a turn for the worse as the Islamic State has its sights set on waging violent Jihad there…

The reported presence of foreign jihadists in Mindanao, particularly in Lanao and nearby provinces, is being validated by concerned government agencies, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said.

Esperon issued the statement in response to the series of intelligence information reaching The STAR, claiming that Indonesian and Malaysian jihadists, along with their Middle East counterparts, have entered Mindanao through the country’s southern backdoor.

These foreign jihadists allied with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are reportedly occupying the former base of the Jemaah Islamiyah at Mt. Cararao in Butig, Lanao Del Sur.

Other reports claimed the foreign jihadists have linked-up with IS-inspired Maute terror group who for more than two weeks has been the subject of massive military and police operations.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/12/11/1652361/entry-foreign-jihadists-mindanao-being-verified-esperon

By terrortrends | Also posted in ISIS, Islamic State, Jihad | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Jihad Continues to Escalate in the Philippines

1 NovamSun, 13 Nov 2016 08:20:33 -06002016-11-13T08:20:33-06:0008 2009 – 08:20

pzabu29e_2x

posted by Christopher W. Holton

We’ve been covering the Islamic insurgency in the Philippines for years now. Along with Thailand, it is one of the two major Islamic insurgencies of which people in the West are mostly unaware.

Since the Jihadist group Abu Sayyaf pledged allegiance to the Islamic State back in 2014, their operations have escalated, at the very least suggesting that funding sources have ramped up their support for the Jihad in the Philippines…

https://terrortrendsbulletin.com/2015/11/26/report-islamic-state-affiliate-abu-sayyaf-expanding-operations/

mainx_adn_0505_abusayyafgrouppdf

The latest incident involves the hostage taking of a half dozen Vietnamese sailors from the high seas near the Philippines, part of Abu Sayyaf’s ongoing operations to both terrorize and raise money through ransom…

Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants attacked a Vietnamese cargo ship on Friday, kidnapping the captain and five of its crew members near the southern Philippine island of Basilan.

Approximately 10 gunmen launched a dawn attack on the MV Royal 16, boarding the vessel and fleeing with their captives in speedboats, according to regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan. Their fate and current status remain unknown.

The ship was heading for Davao City but was stopped near the southern heartland of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group (ISIS). Vietnam is yet to comment on their kidnap.

http://europe.newsweek.com/gunmen-philippines-kidnap-six-vietnamese-sailors-near-abu-sayyaf-heartland-519985

By terrortrends | Also posted in Abu Sayyaf, Hostage taking, ISIS, Islamic State, Jihad, Kidnapping & Hostage-taking, Terrorist attack | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Jihad Escalates in the Philippines

1 ApramThu, 28 Apr 2016 10:38:02 -06002016-04-28T10:38:02-06:0010 2009 – 10:38
Philippine Boxer Manny Pacquiao

Philippine Boxer Manny Pacquiao

by Christopher W. Holton

Here at Terror Trends Bulletin, we have periodically reported on Jihadist groups and activities in the Philippines. This is a theater in the global jihad that is largely ignored by the so-called “mainstream” media.

Over the past week, a Canadian hostage has been murdered by Abu Sayyef jihadists and now we have the revelation that the group plotted to kidnap prominent citizens, evidently to impress the Islamic State.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino highlighted the advancements of Abu Sayyaf, a local extremist group, saying that its fighters had planned to kidnap his sister Kris and boxing star Manny Pacquiao. Aquino also added in a statement that he was “appalled” by the beheading of Canadian citizen John Ridsdel on Monday by Abu Sayyaf militants, believed to have taken over 20 other foreigners hostage.

http://www.ibtimes.com/abu-sayyaf-fighters-planned-kidnap-boxer-manny-pacquiao-philippine-president-benigno-2360302

By terrortrends | Also posted in Abu Sayyaf, beheadings, Islamic State, Jihad, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Report: Islamic State Affiliate Abu Sayyaf Expanding Operations

1 NovpmThu, 26 Nov 2015 18:28:00 -06002015-11-26T18:28:00-06:0006 2009 – 18:28
Abu Sayyaf pledging allegiance to the Islamic State

Abu Sayyaf pledging allegiance to the Islamic State

posted by Christopher W. Holton

Back in August of 2014, a senior leader of the Philippine Jihadist terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Not surprisingly, now there is evidence that the organization is expanding its operations in the Pacific Rim area…

As the rest of the world grapples with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), their latest attacks on Paris, and what some commentators are calling the Global Jihad Insurgency, Philippines-based Islamic militant group the Abu Sayyaf may be spreading its own unwanted tentacles.

That message was clear following a leaked memo from within the Malaysian police published by the news portal Malaysiakini detailing how the Abu Sayyaf has established cell networks in East and West Malaysia, which were prepared to carry out terrorist-styled attacks.

This is unusual as the Abu Sayyaf – who have been widely, and justifiably, vilified as thugs – have largely kept their operations in Basilan, Jolo  and surrounding islands, spilling into the Sulu Sea and only sometimes into nearby Sabah, since the group’s inception in 1991. Operational cells in Kuala Lumpur would indicate a major expansion of its operations.

If the Abu Sayyaf is spreading its wings as an ISIS proxy into Malaysia, a Muslim country with secular pretensions, then fears that the militant insurgency — which dominated the region’s political landscape in the first decade of this century — is making a resurgence will be realized.

Just last week Malaysia’s defense minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, said he and other Malaysian leaders were on an ISIS hit list.

As a paramilitary group, the Abu Sayyaf has sworn allegiance to ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has outlasted its contemporaries, is well armed, and can make bombs. And that is exactly what ISIS needs if it is to pick-up from where JI and JAT left off in the push for a Southeast Asian caliphate, not unlike the one it seeks in the Middle East.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/has-a-philippine-militant-group-gone-regional-amid-islamic-state-fears/

 

 

By terrortrends | Also posted in Abu Sayyaf, ISIS, Islamic State, Jihad, Malaysia | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Italian Former Missionary Kidnapped in Philippines

1 OctpmWed, 07 Oct 2015 20:34:02 -06002015-10-07T20:34:02-06:0008 2009 – 20:34

mindanao

It is highly likely that Rolando del Torchio was abducted by Jihadists. First of all, the abduction occurred on Mindanao, a hotbed of Jihadi violence for many years. Second,  this poor man is a former Catholic missionary; missionaries have been especially targeted by Jihadists in the Philippines for many years.

This abduction shows the futility of negotiating with Jihadists. The Philippine government has been attempting to appease the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for years, so splinter groups and other independent Jihadist groups have carried on with campaigns of terror.

Even if MILF was willing to honor a truce with the Philippine government (highly doubtful), they are but one group of Jihadists operating in the Philippines. It is more likely than not that the Jihadist insurgency in Mindanao will escalate, rather than decline…

Unknown gunmen seized Rolando del Torchio, a former PIME missionary, in Dipolog City (Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao), where he owned the ‘Ur Choice Bistro Café’, an eatery near the Andres Bonifacio College.

Rolando Del Torchio, 57, comes from Angera (Varese, Italy). Ordained a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in 1984, he worked in Naples for a few years and was then sent to the Philippines, to Sebuco on Mindanao, not far from where he was kidnapped.

As a missionary, he worked hard to defend the rights of farmers and tribals against landowners, often putting his own life at risk. In 2001, he asked to live outside the Institute, remaining in Zamboanga del Norte. Subsequently, he left the priesthood for personal reasons.

Nothing is known about the kidnappers. Several Muslim guerrilla groups operate on the island of Mindanao. Some are engaged in talks with the Filipino government. Others abduct foreigners or locals for financial gain or to pursue their struggle against the authorities.

PIME has been present in Mindanao since the 1970s. One of Rolando Del Torchio’s colleagues, Fr Fausto Tentorio, was killed in 2011. Two other missionaries have been killed on the island. Private armed guards murdered Fr Tullio Favali in Tulunan, in the Diocese of Kidapawan, in 1985. Fr Salvatore Carzedda, who was involved in talks with Muslims, was assassinated in Zamboanga in 1992.

Two more missionaries have been abducted. Fr Luciano Benedetti was kidnapped in 1998 by a Muslim group but was released after about two months. A splinter group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) seized Fr Giancarlo Bossi in 2007 and released him after two months in captivity.

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?art=35523&l=en

 

 

 

By terrortrends | Also posted in Hostage taking, Italy, Jihad, Kidnapping & Hostage-taking, Moro Islamic Liberation Front | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)