Contrary to general belief, Islamic leaders are not exempted from terror threats. Recently an emerging terror group, who introduced themselves as Dawlah Islamiyah (DI), communicated with the Executive Secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) warning her to discourage Islamic preachers from participating in an anti-terror summit in Cotabato City, the seat of ARMM regional government.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer broadsheet reported that ARMM Executive Secretary, Laisa Masjuhud Alamia, received an email urging Filipino-Muslims who have relatives who are preachers not to attend the Anti-Terror summit in the City. But despite the threat, the summit still pushed through and ended last Friday without any terror-related incidents.
The same broadsheet also reported that ARMM Local Government Secretary Nor Hafizullah Abdullah braved the threats and said Filipino Muslim leaders should not be cowed by the DI threat. "Good must prevail over evil and we have to unite to protect our communities from the threat," Abdullah was quoted by the Philippine Inquirer.
The DI, was reportedly affiliated with the Maute Group, whose military authorities confirmed that it has pledged allegiance with the ISIS group network to form a global Islamic caliphate.
The Philippine government under the Duterte administration have launched an all-out military offensive against terror groups who refused to entertain peace dialogues with the Philippine government
Duterte has deployed 10,000 foot soldiers to Basilan and Sulu, the provinces known to be the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, another terror group who have been resorting to maritime piracy and kidnap for ransom activities that collected at least 12 million dollars since 2012 from their clandestine activities.
Two of Abu Sayyaf's sub-leaders have already been killed this month as a result of military offensives. They have been identified as Abu Rami and Abu Misaya.
While Duterte has launched military offensives against the ASG, Duterte has also initiated peace dialogues with three other revolutionary organizations, the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the New People's Army.
