The suicide bombing that killed 11 persons in Lamitan, Basilan and which the Islamic State (IS) claims as a “martyrdom operation” shows the terror group is threatened by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

It was the first such terror attack from a lone bomber and there were indications that he was a foreign militant, a sign that the IS plans to import terror techniques that are hitherto unknown to the country.

The suspected bomber, a soldier, five paramilitary troopers and four civilians, including a mother and her child, were killed. Seven others were wounded in the blast.

The IS in a statement carried by its Amaq news agency claimed responsibility for the bombing attack.

A soldier who witnessed the attack said the driver spoke in an unfamiliar dialect raising suspicion that he was a foreign terrorist.

During the five-month siege of Marawi City last year, several IS foreign fighters were reported to have relocated from the Middle East terror operations that have been defeated by a US-led coalition.

The IS news channel identified the bomber as Abu Kathir al-Maghrebi and posted a picture of him. It also said the “martyr” was from Morocco.

Armed Forces of the Philippines officials blamed the Abu Sayyaf Group which has pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The Abu Sayyaf provided the IS access to its local network and thus helped the terror group grow in Southeast Asia, according to experts.

Abu Sayyaf head Isnilon Hapilon was killed during an encounter in the Marawi City battle.

International groups, including the United Nations, warned that the Philippines remains a destination for foreign fighters after the Marawi City attack which was orchestrated by the pro-IS Maute group.

The van was stopped at a checkpoint that prevented the bomber from inflicting more casualties since the military believes its intended target was downtown Lamitan.

The IS is banking on the discontent in the Muslim regions to recruit fighters and spread its extremist ideology in Mindanao.

The IS threat was contained with the decisive move of President Rodrigo Duterte to impose martial law in Mindanao despite the usual potshots from his yellow critics.

The allegations against Rody were effectively silenced by the acknowledgement from the international community that his swift action nipped in the bud what could have been a regional terror threat had the IS established a base in Mindanao.

The BOL seeks to provide autonomy to the Muslim regions and, according to Rody, render to the Moro people a historical justice.

The attack being claimed by the IS is an admission from the terror group of the BOL’s high chance of success and that it is bent on sabotaging the effort to set up the autonomous region.

The government should then take the attack as a cue to work harder and faster to set up the Bangsamoro to keep the terrorists at bay.

The succeeding steps towards the implementation of the BOL is crucial, including the campaign to have the Bangsamoro autonomous region accepted by those who will vote for it.

The challenge for Rody is to manage expectations and the possible frustrations that may arise from the region that will have greater autonomy than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that it will replace.

The IS is expected to lurk like a wolf to take advantage of any mistake that may arise from the forming of the Bangsamoro region.

That the IS needed a foreign “martyr” to undertake the dastardly act raises the hope that the terror operations would be limited due to the lack of local support.

The IS ideology may have been embraced by some leaders of local extremist groups but not their fighters.

Still, the IS remains a threat since it is in the process of indoctrinating Filipino Muslims to accept its violent ways.

The Bangsamoro plan is the only potent antidote to the ambitions of the IS in the country.