Quevedo warns threat of terrorism persists

DAVAO CITY – Cotabato Archbishop Cardinal Orlando Quevedo warned that the threat of terrorism in Mindanao persists even after government forces were able to eliminate Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Isnilon Hapilon, who is considered the “emir” of the Islamic State (IS) in southeast Asia, and Maute Group leader Omar Maute.

Speaking before media at the close of the four-day 16th Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao Thursday, Quevedo said the “the threat of terrorism is still there even after the war in Marawi might have ended.”

Quevedo also disclosed that the bishops of Mindanao do not plan to ask President Rodrigo RoaDuterte to lift martial law in the island, but underscored that its implementation “must be brief, or as needed.”

Quevedo said the presence of other terrorist groups such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) and ASG in Mindanao remains a threat.

“We have many fears. But at present we simply do not have solid and sufficient facts to absolutely reject the declaration of Martial Law as morally reprehensible. But we are certainly agreed that Martial Law must be temporary,” Quevedo said in a statement.

He acknowledged the continuing concerns that other groups in Mindanao with extremist ideologies continue to recruit young people in their bid to create a caliphate.

“You still have BIFF, you still have Abu Sayyaf, you still have many young people being recruited by the extremist groups, idealists who want to have something more than just – they are thinking of a caliphate, and the caliphate will not be anymore in Marawi but could be somewhere else,” he said.

Davao City archbishop Romulo Valles, who is incoming president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said participants of the four-day conference likewise said the clergy was not calling on Duterte to lift martial law, and agreed that there is now an urgent need to help rebuild Marawi from supporting humanitarian groups.

A total of 249 participants coming from different dioceses in Mindanao joined the conference.

“I am sure everyone knows about this incident – the death of two leaders – but the reaction of the participants, nothing about that (lifting of martial law) but let us help Marawi, very resounding… There is deep sincere passionate concern. They did not mind ending martial law but let us help the people of Marawi. Very evident in the conference,” he said.