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

Countering Political Violence and Terrorism Through Peace Research

NEW PIPVTR WEBSITE COMING SOON WITH MORE USEFUL INFORMATION FOR RESEARCHERS AND POLICY MAKERS!!!

The PIPVTR is an independent, non-stock, non-governmental research organization officially registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 29 November 2007 as Philippine Institute for Political Violence and Terrorism Research.  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 and their implications for peace and security. 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". 

The PIPVTR is renamed as PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE FOR PEACE, VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM RESEARCH in order to bring peace studies into political violence and terrorism research.  The PIPVTR is a member of the Council for Asian Terrorism Research (CATR) in which Professor Rommel C. Banlaoi is the current Chairman.           

To broaden the research agenda of the Institute in the light of post-9/11 security challenges that have tremendous impacts on peace, violence and terrorism issues, two centers have been created:  the Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies and the Center for Transnational Crimes Research and Non-Traditional Security Studies. The PIPVTR regularly participates in the annual Shangrila Dialogue organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Chairman of the Anti-Terrorism Council
(ATC), signs PIPVTR launching paper. ATC Spokeperson, Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, and PIPVTR Founding Chairman, Prof. Rommel C. Banlaoi, witness the signing.

Pentagon Chief Assures US Support for Philippines to Fight Terrorism

BANLAOI VISITED SPRATLYS

For news blogs, see http://tagamonumento.blogspot.com/2009/05/ok-lets-assert-national-sovereignty-at.html;  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW5TVYzJWrE

 ON SULO KIDNAPPING

(Please click news)

$2.5 M Bounty to Flush Out 3 ASGs, says Banlaoi

Kidnap for Ranson May Revive the ASG

Mumbai-type Attacks Unlikely in RP, says Prof 

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 (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," Professor 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).  

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  "Comprehensive Dialogue Program for
Muslim Detainees in the Philippines" 

As part of the implementation of the "Comprehensive Dialogue Program for Muslim Detainees in the Philippines," the PIPVTR joined the 139 Muslim Detainees in the celebration of Eidul Adha on 8 December 2008 at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.   

Eid al-Adha (عيد الأضحى ‘Īd ul-’Aḍḥā in Arabic) or the Festival of Sacrifice (Turkish: Kurban Bayramı) is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims  around the globe  in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.   Supt. Baby Noel P. Montalvo, the newly appointed Warden of the Bicutan Jail, was the Guest Speaker.

The Eidul Adha Celebration began with the invocation of Bro, Javier Sampang and the Recitation of Quran by Ustadz Abdul Baqi Abdurahman.   Ustadz Yusop Saddai and Ustadz Yacub Basug delivered their Opening and Welcome remarks, respectively.  The whole program ended with the closing remarks of Ustadz Edzmar Hayudini, the recognized Amir of Muslim detainees.    Bro. Ahmad Santos Alhadj was the master of ceremonies.    

During his dialogue with leaders of Muslim detainees during the Eidul Adha Celebration, PIPVTR Executive Director, Professor Rommel C. Banlaoi, underscored the need to develop mutual understanding among  Muslims, Christians and Lumads in the Philippines in order to promote peace and stability in the country.  Professor Banlaoi also met the wives and families of Muslim detainees joining the celebration.  "Peace begins at home. I am very happy  to see the families of our Muslim friends in Camp Bagong Diwa to join us in this festivity,"  Professor Banlaoi exclaimed.  

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 THE PHILIPPINES: A STUDY OF DISENGAGEMENT AND DE-RADICALIZATION FROM VIOLENT EXTREMISM 

Disengagement and de-radicalization processes have become the subject of  intense scholarly interest among academics and experts engaged in counter-terrorism and violent extremism research worldwide.  In the Philippines, however, a very little scholarly attention has been paid to the important issue on why a person withdraws from violent extremism despite the significant number of individuals who have disengaged and de-radicalized from the use of political violence.  Several studies have been conducted in the Philippines to examine why an individual become radicalized.  Yet, there has been no published research on the Philippines on why individuals become de-radicalized or why they turn their backs on their former organizations known for acts of political violence and terrorism.  In other words, little research has been conducted in the Philippines on why  former terrorists or extremists renounce their previous beliefs and why they presently reject groups or organizations involved in violent extremism.

This research project intends to conduct an in-depth study of disengagement and de-radicalization from violent extremism in the Philippines.  This project aims to answer the following research questions:  1) What causes an individual to withdraw, de-radicalize or disengage from violent extremism?  2) What are the major processes and principal drivers of individual disengagement and de-radicalization in the Philippines? 3)  What are the impacts of individual disengagement and de-radicalization on counter terrorism policy in the Philippines? 4)  What are the lessons learned from individual disengagement and de-radicalization from violent extremism in the Philippines? 

This study will focus on individuals associated with Muslim groups accused of committing criminal acts related to terrorism and violent extremism.   Specifically, this study will concentrate on selected members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Rajah Solaiman Islamic Movement (RSIM) who have either been disengaged or de-radicalized from the use of political violence.  These respondents are either in jail, under witness protection program or at large living a peaceful life.  The method of this study is intensive interview of individuals who have disengaged from groups accused of violent extremism or who have undergone a fundamental change in their personal understanding from extremist to a more tolerant or moderate worldviews. 

This research will also conduct a rigorous review of existing literature on de-radicalization in order to identify gaps in our theoretical and practical understanding of the subject.  The end state of this project is a policy recommendation on how to institutionalize de-radicalization as a government approach to counter the spread of violent extremism in the Philippines.   MGen Fernando L. Mesa, Executive Director of the Anti-Terrorism Council Secretariat, expresses interest to support the project under its deradicalization program.

   TERRORIST THREATS SEVEN YEARS AFTER 9/11

In commemoration of the September 11, 2001 terrrorist 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 Afganistan 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 the 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 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.  

 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.