Day one of the conference involves an overview of domestic and regional concerns (session 1), territorial and boundary issues (session 2); and maritime security in the Southern Philippines (session 3). Day two features discussion on the economic and environmental security in the Southern Philippines (session 4); and human security in the Southern Philippines (session 5).  Among the speakers are the Attorney Rodel Cruz, former Undersecretary of Defence (Philippines) and President of the Asia Pacific Security Forum; Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, Professor Rommel Banlaoi; Commander Ronnie Gil Gavan from the Philippine Coast Guard; and Professor Harry Roque, Professor of Law with the University of the Philippines. Read more here.

PIPVTR Commemorates IHL Day with the AFP

Defense and Security Agenda of President Benigno Simeon "Noy Noy" Aquino III

 Roundtable on Media Reporting of Terrorism and the Abu Sayyaf Threat: Scope and Scoop

PIPVTR Research Team Visits Camp Abu Bakar

Walking Away from Terrorism:  My Knowledge of the Abu Sayyaf and Why I Disengaged From It?

 Roundtable on Crime-Terrorism Nexus: Countering the Abu Sayyaf Group

Roundtable on the Future of the Philippine Communist Movement

Terrorist Attacks in the South China Sea May Happen, Opines Expert

While very difficult to undertake because of the lack of adequate capabilities, terrorist groups operating in Southeast Asia can target ships cruising the South China Sea, opines Prof. Rommel Banlaoi in his lecture at the Naval Command and Staff College of the National Defense University of Taiwan on 14 April 2010.  The South China Sea is one of the busiest searoutes in the world with around 50,000 ships passing there annualy and therefore a potential target for maritime terrorist attacks.  Pirates and armed robbers with links with terrorist groups also operate in the area and this makes the South China Sea vulnerable to maritime terrorism.  But the on-going naval  capability developments and increased coastal patrols among claimants in the South China Sea can deter terrorist groups to actually mount an attack in the area.  "Terrorist groups may have the intent to wreak havoc in the South China Sea.  The major challenge to littoral states  is to prevent these groups to develop capabilities and deny them the opportunities to mount terrorist attacks in a sea so vital for global commerce," says Banlaoi who was in Taiwan on 14-17 April 2010 to deliver series of lecture at the National Chengchi University, National Chung Hsing University, National Ocean Taiwan University and National Defense University.

Evolving Threat of Terrorism in Southeast Asia: Fifteen Dead in Basilan Bombings in Southern Philippines

"Terrorism continues to pose a virulent threat in Southeast Asia not because of the lack of counter meaasures but because of terrorist group's enormous resilience to vigorously adapt to their changing environment and to diligently innovate their strategies and tactics based on their successful and failed operations," says Prof. Rommel Banlaoi in his lecture at the 4th Asia Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO) on 13 April 2010 at Sentosa Resort and Spa in SIngapore.   According to Banlaoi, terrorist threats in Southeast Asia since 9/11 have evolved into a more complex form with their growing nexus with organized crimes, insurgencies and open radicalisms of some groups from civil society.   While many terrorist leaders have been killed in battle, executed, imprisoned or convinced to leave terrorism behind, there are still younger and more aggressive believers willing to take the place of their predecessors.  To address these evolving threats, a great deal of efforts is imperative to improve regional cooperation in the areas of itne intelligence exchange, information dissemination and interoperability of operations. 

While delivering the lecture,  Abu Sayyaf bandits took their campaign of terror to the heart of Basilan, setting off bombs at a Roman Catholic cathedral, school grandstand and three other places, and clashing with government forces in Isabela City.  At least 15 people, including the brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Purudji Indama, were killed in the attacks staged by armed men wearing police and military uniforms.  Read here for more details.

 Security Sector Transformation to Address Political Violence and Terrorism

To promote the good governance of the security sector and to propagate the culture of peacebuilding in the Southern Philippines, the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) joins the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in the security sector transformation training of police, military, civil society organization, business sector and local government officials of the first district of Maguindanao.  The training was held in Insular Hotel, Davao City from 11-13 March 2010.  The training is funded by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF).  It is also being supported by the Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Western Mindanao Command of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer and PDir Felizardo Serapio, respectively. The training was designed by the IAG through its Executive DIrector, Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr., OMI (see photo below).

Visiting Internally Displaced Persons in Datu Piang, Maguindanao

In cooperation with the Mindanao Tulong Bakwet (MTB), PIPVTR Executive Director visited the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Datu Piang, Maguindanao on 10 March 2010.  The purpose of the visit was to conduct premilinary assessment of the human security situation of the IDPs for purposes of public policy development and improvement.  Around   half million  IDPs have been estimated in the Philippines, but PIPVTR only visited a particular evacuation area in Datu Piang where there are 140 families considered to be IDPs.  PIPVTR also passed by other evaucation areas where IDPs continue to stay for almost two years.  The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) estimated 125,000 to 188,000 IDPs in Mindanao as a result of armed conflicts involving the Philippine military and the moro rebels.  Click here for the IDMC country study of IDPs in the Philippines.  Also  Download full Internal Displacement Profile of the Philippines. Below is a photo of a two-month old IDP in Datu Piang (photo taken by PIPVTR).

PIPVTR Speaks at the Forum on Election Extortions

In a Forum organized by the Philippine Army on 5 March 2010, the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) reported that  the New People's Army (NPA) is collecting billions of pesos from its  Permit to Campaign (PTC) fees.  From the point of view of the NPA, the collection of PTC fees is part of the over-all strategy of this armed group to assert its de-facto control  of its "territories" and to demonstrate its political power, authority and sovereignty as a revolutionary movement so it can push its goal to be recognized as a belligerent group.  Fees are used to finance  the revolutionary activities of the NPA  and to lure the loyalty of its people in its controlled and influenced areas.    The forum, attended by the top brass of the Philippine Army,  featured the lecture of Hon. Rene V. Sarmiento of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Commissioner Sarmiento said the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is projected to generate about P2 to P5 billion from their permit to campaign (PTC)and permit to win (PTW)fees this year. Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento, interviewed after a dialogue with Army commanders, also said that the NPAs collected P1.5 billion and P2 billion during the 2004 and 2007 elections, respectively, through such extortion schemes.  “According to the reports we received today, the NPAs in 2004 raised P1.5 billion. In 2007, they raised P2 billion. For 2010, according to the reports, it will range from P2 billion to P5 billion,” Sarmiento told reporters.“ These are serious reports because these have repercussions on our elections and democracy. I hope our institutions, including AFP and PNP, will address the serious character of these PTCs and PTWs,” said Sarmiento.  Sarmiento said the money that the NPAs stand to earn “could threaten the existence of democracy.”

When asked what was the basis of his information, Sarmiento said: “This was a report coming from one of our reactors, Prof. Rommel Banlaoi. He is the source of this information…If its true, the P2 to P5 billion is alarming.”  Banlaoi is currently the chairman of the board and the executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research. He is also the head the PIPVTR’s center for intelligence and national security studies. Click here to read more. Photo credit here.

PIPVTR Joins IAG in Security Sector Transformation Training in Maguindanao

Transforming the country's security sector is one effective means to address the isue of political violence and terrorism in the Philippines, says Prof. Rommel Banlaoi in a security sector transformation training of police, military, civil society organizations and local government officials of the Second District of Maguindanao organized by the Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) held at Grand Men Seng Hotel,  Davao City on 25 February 2010.  Political violence and terrorism thrive in an area where there is a failure of the security sector to provide order and prevent groups and individuals to arm themselves illegimately.  Security sector transformation is implemented to pursue peace building efforts for the resolution of internal armed conflicts.  It also part of the over-all process of democratization to ensure the democratic governance of the security sector so that it can perform its mandated role to provide internal and external security for the people and the state.  In his welcoming message, Lt. General Raymundo G. Ferrer, Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, emphasized that security sector transformation is needed to sustain the efforts of peace-building in the Philippines. PDIR Felizardo M. Serapio, Jr., DIrector of DIPO PNP Western Mindanao, also presented  peace advocacy and security reform in the police force as part of the over-all process of security sector transformation. Another training is set on 11-15 March 2010 for the First District of Maguindanao.  The province of Maguindanao was put in the local and international media because of the massacre of 57 civilians in November 2009.

Counter Terrorism Measures in Southeast Asia

Though countries in Southeast Asia have made significant progress in counter-terrorism, terrorism  in the region continues to pose a threat as there are remaining members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)  who have the intent and capability to wreak havoc, says Prof. Rommel Banlaoi is a public forum organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) held at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) on 24 February 2010 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  During the said public forum, Prof. Banlaoi also opined that Malaysia has the capability to prevent terrorism from taking root in the country due to its good track record in combating past insurgencies and its more disciplined law enforcement agencies.  Click  here to read more.  Prior to the lecture, Prof. Banlaoi met  on 23 February 2010 Ambassador Ahmad Shahizan Abd Samad, SEARCCT Director General, where they exhanged views on counter-terrorism cooperation in Southeast Asia.

Public Understanding of and Response to Terrorism in the Philippines

Organized by the National University of Malaysia, PIPVTR presented a paper entitled "Public Understanding of and Response to Terrorism in the Philippines" in a Regional Workshop on Public Understanding of and Responses  to Terrorism held at the Le Meridien Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 22-23 February 2010.  The paper stressed that the Philippine public does not have a shared understanding of terrorism and threat it poses to Philippine security.  There is also a state-civil society tension on the issue of terrorism in the Philippines.  Public opinion survey shows that the Philippine public is worried about terrorist attacks.  But public satisfaction on governmnent response against terrorism has also steadily declined since 9/11. The regional workshop was attended by international experts like Sidney Jones and Rizal Sukma.

The Eventual Demise of Local Communist Movement in the Philippines

After 41 years of fighting the government, the CPP/NPA/NDF (CNN) miserably failed to achieve its strategic goal of seizing political power. Inarguably, the future seems bleak for the movement, as its military capability and people’s support to its cause continue to decrease consistently each year. Today, it has lost its revolutionary character and has mutated into a criminal group. It is getting its strength and endurance, not from ideology but merely from extortion and propaganda. It is no longer a national security threat but a localized problem which the local government units can address with improved delivery of basic services and effective governance. This essay upholds the view that the CNN’s war is a lost cause. by By Brig. Gen. FRANCISCO N. CRUZ Jr. AFP, Commander, Civil Relations Service, AFP. Click here  or see Paper Series of this website to read more.

The GRP-MILF Peace Process:  The Continuing Search for a Negotiated Solution to a Deep-Rooted Armed Conflicts

 In cooperation with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, the PIPVTR  organized a round table discussion on the above topic on 5 February 2010, 2:00-5:00 PM at the Aguinaldo Conference Room,  AFP Commissioned Officers Club (AFPCOC), Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.  Ambassador Rafael Seguis, Chairman of the Government Negotiating Panel for Talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, articulated the government position on the issue.  Dr. Cesar Pobre of the Office of Strategic and Special Studies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Atty. Nasser Marohomasalic, Convenor of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy and Chairman of the Muslim Legal Assistance Foundation  gave the academic expert and civil society perspectives, respectively,  on the said topic.  See Paper Series of this website for downloadable presentations. Upon request of Ambassador Seguis, his paper is not available for public access as his speech is guided by the principle of non-attribution.  

As the country prepares to elect the next president,  the International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov) in partnership with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), with support from the National Endowment Fund, organized a public forum on the Powers of the Presidency: Preventing Misuse and Abuse. The forum was held on 30 January 2010, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, at Fuller Hall, Asian Institute of Management, Makati City.  PIPVTR attended the said forum. Click here for downloadable forum documents.

Organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process, PIPVTR attended the Project for Peace Forum on 27 January 2010 at the Astoria Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.  The forum aims to tap the vital role of all peace partners in the Philippines in finding just and lasting solution to multifaceted problems of armed conflicts in the country.  Click  here for more information. Related to this event,  the Deparment of History and International Studies of the College and Arts of Sciences and the  International Studies Society of the University of the East, Prof. Rommel Banlaoi spoke on the above topic on 21 January 2010 at  the University of the East Campus Auditorium.  In his presentation, "Political Violence and Electoral Practice in the Philippines: Causes, Sources and Effects", Prof. Banlaoi discussed the historical context of electoral violence in the Philippines and described the trends of  election-related violence from 1946-1986 and 1986-2007.  With 1.1 million unlicensed guns and 132 private armies, Prof. Banlaoi raised concerns on the possibility of rising violence in the May 2010 elections.  As of January 2010 alone, at least 70 peope have been killed in an election-related violence.  If the Philippine law enforcement agencies fail to prevent private armed groups to use force during elections, this trend could rise, says Prof. Banlaoi, as we count the days towards May 2010 elections.  Atty. Harry Roque, a human rights lawyer and professor of law at the University of the Philippines, was also a speaker.  He talked about Maguindanao Massacre case and the forensic of impunity on the case. Photo credit here.