| The Philippines is the only country in the world | | | | Al-Qaida style operations seen in Madrid bombings |
| that is combating terrorism on three diverse | | | | on March 11, 2004 and the London bombings on |
| fronts - communism, secessionism, and Islam - all | | | | July 7, 2005. |
| at the same time. Terrorists belonging to these | | | | The JI and AQ are actively sowing terror in the |
| threat fronts have different aspirations and | | | | Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia - which this |
| possess varied ideological persuasions, but | | | | author called as the "Triangle of Terror" because |
| espousing similar violent methods to achieve their | | | | of their geographic location. In this regard, the |
| ultimate cause. | | | | Philippine government needs the cooperation of its |
| The communist groups want to change the social | | | | neighboring countries in the south to contain the |
| and political structure of the Philippines from | | | | widespread activities of the AQ network and JI |
| capitalism to communism through protracted | | | | members in the country. |
| armed revolution. On the other hand, the | | | | JI has a direct connection with the MILF and ASG |
| secessionist groups want to secede from the | | | | through operational, financial, and training linkages. |
| Manila government and establish an independent | | | | A captured Indonesian JI member named Rohmat |
| state in Mindanao. The third front -the Islamic | | | | @ Zaki revealed that JI funneled P100,000 to |
| groups - is a mixture of local and trans-national | | | | ASG leaders who in turn channeled the money to |
| terrorists dedicated to create a Pan-Islamic state | | | | MILF leader Abu Basit to fund bombing activities in |
| in Southeast Asia. | | | | Mindanao intended to be carried out by JI, ASG, |
| The terrorist groups belonging to the communist | | | | and MILF members sometime March 2005. |
| front are the Communist Party of the Philippines | | | | The destabilization plan did not materialize |
| New Peoples Army (CPP/NPA)and its urban hit | | | | according to plans, but the revelation by this JI |
| squads, the Sparrow Units (SU)and the original | | | | leader strongly revealed the close association of JI |
| Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB)- now known as the | | | | terror group with the ASG and MILF. The |
| National Partisan Squad (NPS). Added to these | | | | operational ties between JI and ASG elevate the |
| communist terror groups are the | | | | war on terror in the Philippines to the next level. |
| Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan of the | | | | Philippine government officials believed that JI |
| Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines and the | | | | activities in the country has the full blessings of |
| Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao | | | | the AQ operational command. |
| Brigade of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng | | | | The Philippine government also needs to secure |
| Mangagawa ng Pilipinas. The CPP/NPA and ABB | | | | the cooperation of the United States and the |
| are listed in the US government's Foreign | | | | Australian government who have economic and |
| Terrorist Organization (FTO) list. | | | | security interests in the Asian-Pacific region. To |
| The SU and ABB gained notoriety through | | | | the Americans, this is a forward-containment of |
| assassinations of military and police personnel | | | | terrorists in third world country to avert a repeat |
| including civilians whom they tagged as | | | | of another Project Bojinka; to the Australians, this |
| reactionaries and fascists. One of their infamous | | | | will prevent the spillover of terrorism from the |
| killings was the assassination of Colonel Nick Rowe | | | | Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia to Oceania. |
| of the Joint US Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) | | | | The influx of foreign terrorists in Mindanao and |
| in December 1989 while the American was on his | | | | their association with the local terror groups is a |
| way to JUSMAG HQS in Quezon City. | | | | serious threat to national security that needs |
| The secessionist groups are composed of the | | | | immediate and clear-cut government response. |
| Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari Breakaway | | | | It is important to note that the Philippine |
| Group (MNLF-MBG) and the Moro Islamic | | | | government has been battling terrorism for about |
| Liberation Front (MILF). These groups do not see | | | | four decades now, yet it has not gained full |
| eye to eye, as each one has its own stakes in | | | | control of the security situation in the country. |
| their struggle against the Manila government. | | | | Considering the experiences gained in the long |
| During the height of the skirmishes with the | | | | years of fighting terrorism, the police and military |
| Philippine armed forces in the 1970s, these groups | | | | forces should have decimated the mentioned |
| gained support from the powerful Organization of | | | | terrorist organizations and could have successfully |
| Islamic Countries notably Libya. | | | | established peace and order in the country. |
| The hard core members of the MNLF-MBG and | | | | However, the current internal security condition in |
| MILF engage in killings politicians and Christians, | | | | the whole archipelago dictates otherwise. |
| arsons, kidnappings and bombing of public places. | | | | The CPP/NPA regular units along with hit squads in |
| On the other hand, the Islamist front is composed | | | | the rural and urban areas are still forces to reckon |
| of the local Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), | | | | with in Luzon and Visayas, and Mindanao - the |
| Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror | | | | three main islands in the Philippines. The MILF, |
| group and the Al Qaeda (AQ) network. These | | | | MNLF-MBG and ASG are actively engaging the |
| three terror groups who work hand in hand are in | | | | police and military forces in Mindanao. The |
| the FTO list as well. | | | | operational ties of the JI terror group and the AQ |
| The spate of bombings and kidnapping activities | | | | network with their local Muslim counterparts are |
| perpetrated by ASG in the past years | | | | getting stronger as days go by, and alongside |
| deteriorates the peace and order situation in | | | | with the ASG, they are able to perform terror |
| Mindanao and Metro Manila. So far, the worst | | | | activities in Metro Manila. |
| terror attack conducted by ASG was the | | | | The probability of neutralizing or minimizing |
| firebombing of a passenger ferry off Manila Bay | | | | terrorism in the Philippines is great depending on |
| last February 2003 that killed more than 100 | | | | the political will of the incumbent administration to |
| people. The so-called "Valentine's Day" attacks on | | | | make it happen. A lukewarm approach will only |
| 2005 in General Santos City, Davao City, and | | | | bolster the communists, secessionists and |
| Makati City may not be as deadly as the Super | | | | Islamists to advance their political and religious |
| Ferry attack; however, the way they were | | | | cause. |
| carried out by ASG denotes a grim signature of | | | | |