‘Volcano waiting to explode’

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech after administering the oath to newly-appointed officials from various government agencies during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on February 7, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The fight against the Islamic State (IS) is not over and the calm experienced now is like that of a dormant volcano waiting to explode anytime.

This was the warning issued by President Rodrigo Duterte as he warned of more attacks from the terror group which he described as “insane” and “made in hell.”

“We have this insane IS who would kill. And I expect that they would do some bombings here and bombings there because that’s what they get in the Middle East. What they are really after is to kill,” the Chief Executive said in a speech during the oathtaking of newly appointed government officials at the Palace last Thursday afternoon.

“No quarters given. No quarters asked,” he added.

The President had ordered the government’s security forces to go after the state’s enemies following the recent spate of bombings in Mindanao perpetrated by local armed groups that pledged allegiance to the jihadist movement.

Last month, a string of incidents reignited fears of IS resurgence in the region. On 25 January, violence erupted between the military and a group led by Abu Dar – said to be the new leader of the IS-inspired Maute Group.

Although the military scored “big successes” for killing three terrorists and demolishing their training camp, Abu Dar somehow managed to slip through the cracks.

Two days later, twin blasts rocked the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu that left 22 dead and 109 others seriously injured. The IS has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Not long after, an explosion at a mosque in Zamboanga City killed two persons and wounded four others.

The attack brought the President to order the military to search for all suspected lairs of terror groups throughout Mindanao and destroy them.

“I can bring myself to kill, but it has to be a good reason — self-defense, defense of relatives, defense of a stranger, fulfilling your duty as a peace officer,” Mr. Duterte said.

The Department of National Defense (DND) stayed clear from validating claims that Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Hajan Sawadjaan, who allegedly masterminded the Jolo, Sulu bomb attack that killed at least 23 persons and wounded 95 others, is now the new IS emir in the Philippines.

“The DND and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have our own validation method independent of the PNP and other government agencies. It would be inappropriate to issue further comments on this until we have received verification and confirmation from our own sources,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a message to reporters Thursday night.

In a separate message, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the terrorist group has its own selection process.

“The AFP is not privy to it and will not issue any confirmation. But whoever they recognize as such, we assure our people that the AFP’s desire to neutralize him and his terrorist cohorts is consistent and undiminished,” he added.

Arevalo also said AFP chief of staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal is determined to employ all the capabilities of the military and apply the full force of the law against these terrorists.

“We will not stop until justice is served to the hapless civilians who were victims of their vicious attacks,” he added.

Meanwhile, the AFP spokesman said they are still confirming reports that ASG leader Idang Susukan was killed during recent military operations in Jolo.

“He was previously reported to be seriously wounded during the fierce encounter between the ASG and the AFP’s 41st Infantry Battalion,” Arevalo said.

“Progress reports from various sources on the ground indicate that he eventually died due to the severe injuries he sustained in that firefight. Notwithstanding these reports that tend to confirm each other, our troops in the area endeavor to locate his remains for us to conclusively report through DNA test that he indeed is dead,” he added.

Once his death is conclusively established, Arevalo said this will deal a serious blow to the leadership of the ASG.