Terrorism is still alive and kicking

Today marks the first anniversary of the siege of the Islamic City of Marawi by a band of bandits comprising members of Abu Sayyaf Group and the Maute Group in what was one of the bloodiest and most costly terrorist attacks in the country.

It was in the afternoon of May 23, 2017 when government troops launched an operation against Abu Sayyaf bandits who slipped into the city from Sulu. The mission was to capture Isnilon Hapilon, the Abu Sayyaf leader believed to be the Southeast Asia leader of Islamic State (IS).

Fierce firefighting erupted as the Abu Sayyaf and Maute Group engaged the military. As they put up stiff resistance, the terrorists hoisted the IS flags. They had pledged allegiance to IS, vowing to establish an Islamic caliphate in Marawi.

With the terrorists occupying a significant portion of the city as the military stepped up its campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law across Mindanao to prevent the Marawi tension from spreading to other areas in the south.

The campaign to free Marawi City would drag on for months. The bandits pillaged schools, hospitals, and government offices. They desecrated a Catholic church and held hostage a priest and several parishioners.

The military also had its share of setbacks as many soldiers lost their lives in battles against the terrorists. There were unfortunate events involving military operations that had gone wrong resulting in many soldiers killed by friendly fire.

Marawi was eventually freed from the terrorists following months of air and ground assaults by the armed forces. The city has been reduced to ashes and the government announced a rehabilitation plan costing over P70 billion.

We don't want another Marawi siege. But terrorism is still alive and kicking in Mindanao with the Abu Sayyaf still maintaining a significant presence in Sulu, Basilan, and other areas despite military operations. The bandits, as they allied with other terrorist groups in the region, still have the ability to regroup and strike again.