A foothold for ISIS?

Relatives and friends mourned the soldiers who died from gunfire and improvised explosive devices set off by the Abu Sayyaf in clashes that started Saturday morning in Basilan. The Armed Forces of the Philippines yesterday reported killing 13 more bandits, but the AFP’s own death toll of 18 is among the highest ever in its decades-old battle with the terrorist group.

Among the enemy casualties was Ubalda Hapilon, identified as a son of top terrorist Isnilon Hapilon, who has a $5-million prize on his head. An intriguing casualty was Mohammad Khattab, described by military intelligence as a Moroccan instructor in producing IEDs and a preacher of Islamic jihad.

According to the AFP chief, Khattab was trying to unify and organize kidnap-for-ransom groups for affiliation with an international terrorist organization. The AFP did not identify the organization, but there have been recent reports – denied by the military – that the extremist Islamic State of Syria and Iraq has been trying to gain a foothold in Mindanao.

Khattab could have imparted the knowhow in producing the IEDs that inflicted so much harm on the soldiers, although the Abu Sayyaf has been making improvised explosives for many years with help from the Southeast Asian terror cell Jemaah Islamiyah. The presence of a foreign jihadi bomb maker, especially one who joins the Abu Sayyaf in a firefight with state forces, should stir deep concern in this country as governments worry about the spreading influence of ISIS.

Belgium just recently suffered its worst terrorist attack courtesy of ISIS, with the suspects linked to the same group that launched nearsimultaneous attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 last year that left about 130 people dead in the French capital. Reports said Germany is moving to thwart a similar attack in one of its cities.

If Khattab is part of ISIS, containing this threat will take more than killing him. Thanks to global connectivity, ISIS can recruit all over the world and wage a borderless war, influencing local jihadis to commit crimes against humanity. The intelligence community must determine the depth of Khattab’s involvement in the activities of the threat groups operating in Mindanao. ISIS extremism cannot be allowed to take root in this country.