Welcome to the Philippine Institute for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR)!

The PIPVTR is an independent, non-stock, not-for-profit, but cost-recovery, non-governmental research organization officially registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 29 November 2007.  It was first conceptualized in September 2005 by a group of experts, academics and practitioners who see the need to establish a center  in the Philippines dedicated to the study of political violence and terrorism. The PIPVTR was officially launched on 6 March 2008 at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the Chairman of the Philippine Anti-Terrorism Council.   Ermita described the PIPVTR as the country's "pioneering think tank on terrorism research and studies". 

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Chairman of the Anti-Terrorism Council
(ATC), signs PIPVTR launching paper.

More suffering, displacement feared in Mindanao before Arroyo term ends, say analysts

Photo: Jason Gutierrez/IRIN

Children play in a gymnasium converted into an evacuation camp in the southern Philippines

MANILA , November 2008 (IRIN) - Muslim separatist rebels are expected to step up guerrilla attacks against government and civilian targets in the coming months, leading to more displacement and suffering on the southern island of Mindanao, analysts warned.

"We are expecting more people to be displaced, with the government continuing its hot-pursuit operations against the MILF," Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, a think-tank, told IRIN. "I don't think the MILF will go back to the negotiating table under the current administration."

He said the "framework" for any future peace talks had been radically reversed by President Gloria Arroyo, who insisted MILF rebels must first disarm and surrender rogue elements to authorities before new talks. The policy shift "is a clear departure" from previous negotiations that have been marked by violations of a ceasefire set in 2003.

"The framework has changed. I think the position of the Philippine government is now very strong. It wants the rebels crushed," he said.  By Jason Gutierrez(More at PIPVTR News or at IRIN http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81394).

 "LOMIBAO INAUGURATES PIPVTR UNDERSTANDING TERRORISM LECTURE SERIES"

Retired Police General Arturo C. Lomibao, Chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Action Group (NACTAG), inaugurated the PIPVTR "Understanding Terrorism Lecture Series" on October 24, 2-5 PM at the Aguinaldo Conference Room of  AFP Commissioned Officers' Club, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.   He delivered the inaugural lecture entitled  "Achievements and Challenges in Counter-Terrorism in the Philippines Seven Years After 9/11" (For a copy of this lecture, see PIPVTR Paper Series).

 The "Understanding Terrorism Lecture Series" aims to inform all relevant stakeholders on terrorism issues facing the Philippines and the Southeast Asian region in order to gain a better understanding of terrorist threats and thereby contribute to the improvement of public policy and national strategy.  Specialists, experts, and watchers from the academe, media, government  agencies, non-government organizations and interested individuals from the private sector and the general public are invited to participate in the lecture series.

   TERRORIST THREATS SEVEN YEARS AFTER 9/11  

In commemoration of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Professor Rommel C. Banlaoi, PIPVTR Executive Director, delivered a lecture at the Philippine Air Force Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Education School, Villamor Air Base on September 11, 2008. His lecture, entitled "Terrorist Threats Seven Years After 9/11" , examined the current terrorist threats in the Philippines in the context of global terrorist trends. He said that the epicenter of global terrorism seven years after 9/11 has shifted from Afghanistan and Iraq to Pakistan.

Prof. Banlaoi argued that despite the gains in the global campaign against terrorism, threats of political violence and terrorism continue to loom large in the strategic agenda of states because of the resilience of many terrorist groups around the world. The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), for example, has proven its resilience despite the Oplan Ultimatum launched in 2006. There is also a danger that as a result of the break down of the peace talks in Mindanao, some factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) may resort to terrorism to continue their struggle for a Bangsamoro Homeland. But the greatest terrorist threat facing the Philippine government comes from the New People's Army (NPA), which has the main objective of toppling down the government.
Professor Banlaoi asserted that military solution can only provide a short-term remedy to the threat of terrorism. He emphasized that unless the government wins the hearts and minds of these groups through effective governance, the Philippines is doomed to suffer the vicious cycle of terrorism and political violence. 

 (Coming Very Soon) 

 "Comprehensive Dialogue Program for
Muslim Detainees in the Philippines"