ISIS in Philippines a Threat to Region

The Straits Times

12 January 2016

Rohan Gunaratna

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is likely to create branches in the Philippines and Indonesia this year.

Although the Indonesian military pre-empted ISIS plans to declare a satellite state of the so-called caliphate in eastern Indonesia, ISIS is determined to declare at least one province in Asia in 2016. An ISIS foothold will present far-reaching security implications for the stability and prosperity of a rising Asia.

The risk is high in the Philippines, where after a year-long discussion between local groups that pledged allegiance to ISIS’ self-appointed caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Ahlus Shura (council) has appointed Isnilon Hapilon the overall leader of the so-called Islamic State in the Philippines. Hapilon is the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan.

… The writer is professor of security studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at RSIS, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. This article is due to be published in RSIS Commentary.

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