Terror activities in the Philippines declined in 2010—US State Dep’t

MANILA, Philippines—Terrorist activities by notorious Islamic extremists and communist rebels in the Philippines generally declined last year although terrorist attacks continued, the US State Department said in a report.

In its latest congressional report on global counterterrorism trends, the US State Department noted the diminished ability of the Abu Sayyaf Group, Jemaah Islamiyah and New People’s Army to sow terror during 2010.

It said President Aquino, who assumed office in June 2010, continued the Philippines’ “strong counterterrorism cooperation with the United States.”

“The ability of terrorist groups such as Abu Sayyaf Group, Jemaah Islamiya and the New People’s Army to conduct terrorist activities inside the Philippines continued to decline,” observed the US State Department in its section on the Philippines in the Country Reports on Terrorism 2010.

“The Philippine government, with US support, has kept constant pressure on terrorist groups even as their security services were stretched thin by other demands such as carrying out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and providing security for the national election in May,” it added.

The report noted how Philippine security forces killed prominent ASG sub-commander Albader Parad and five other ASG militants in Jolo on Feb. 21 last year.

But the ASG led by Puruji Indama launched a multiple improvised explosive device attack in Isabela City, Basilan, on April 13 last year, killing nine people at a Catholic cathedral.

The US State Department lauded Philippine law enforcers for their “continued vigorous efforts to arrest terrorists and eliminate safe havens, and closely coordinated efforts with US law enforcement officers.”

It took note of “reasonable and consistent attempts” to capture two high-profile terrorist fugitives believed to be in the country namely, JI associate Zulkipli bin Abdul Hir alias Marwan, and ASG commander Isnilon Hapilon.

“Capturing the true picture of terrorist incidents in the Philippines is difficult,” the US State Department said, adding that kidnappings, grenade attacks and other acts of violence “often seem indiscriminate and most remain unsolved.”

On Tuesday, Mr. Aquino asked lawmakers to lift restrictive provisions in the Human Security Act to give more teeth to the counterterrorism law.

Worldwide, the number of terrorist attacks rose by nearly 5 percent from the previous year as more than 11,500 attacks occurred in 72 countries during 2010, according to the US State Department.

More than 13,200 people were killed as a result, or 12 percent less than the previous year’s toll.

The report said more than 75 percent of the attacks and deaths occurred in South Asia and the Near East region.