History of Islamic terrorism in the Philippines as Isis fights for control of Marawi

Located on the island of Mindanao, two hours by plane from the Philippines' capital Manila, lies the city of Marawi, home to one of the biggest Muslim communities in the country. The autonomous region has long been the scene of violent and frequent battles for independence.

In the early 1970s, several criminal groups gained power and influence in local politics. They began to request power over legislation in the region. This situation deteriorated into a war between government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front, an Islamic separatist organisation which demanded full independence of Mindanao from Manila. 'Moro' is a local term to identify various Muslim groups living in the southern Philippines. Today the Moro minority makes over 5% of the total population.

While the government never accepted the independence aspirations of local religious and military leaders, they did allow the region to become autonomous as of 1 August 1989. Today the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is the only Philippines region with its own local government that controls spending on education and health but has not tax raising powers.

The Islamist groups in the region – created from the remains of the now defunct Moro Liberation Front – have spent the last 40 years fighting both the Philippines government and each other for control of Mindanao. This war has already claimed more than 150,000 lives. Isis is now also operating in the region, attempting to establish a caliphate in South East Asia.

Mindanao: an island on the brink

As the siege of Marawi enters its fourth week, fighting between national security forces and rebels continues, both in core neighbourhoods and the outskirts of the Lanao del Sur province.

Officials say that around 290 people have been killed as of 14 June, but reports from the region suggest the figure could be higher. A coalition of Islamist groups operates inside the city, with others trying to expand their control in nearby provinces.

Groups such as Maute, Bangsmoro, Ansar Khilafa and Abu Sayyaf have been able to consolidate their positions on the island, as President Rodrigo Duterte focused much of his military and police power on his war on drugs. Free from close monitoring, the groups have been free to create strong bonds with Isis.

With foreign fighters – from Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and even Chechnya – arriving at the island, president Duterte faces a situation that could plunge the entire region into crisis.

In 2016, Duterte rejected a cease-fire deal offered by Maute, who are now leading the fight in Marawi. Local press reported at the time that Duterte had challenged the Islamist group, who had threatened to attack the city as early as December 2016.

The battle now raging in Mindanao began following a failed attempt by security forces to capture Isnilon Hapilon - Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader and a close ally of both Isis and Maute – in May 2017.

Hapilon is one of the world's most-wanted terrorists, with a $5m bounty on his head from the FBI. Under Hapilon's guide, the ASG has become more powerful. According to a report published by the Philippine authorities (http://www.thejakartapost.com/seasia/2016/10/27/abu-sayyaf-got-73-million-from-kidnappings-.html) in October 2016, the terrorist group bank accounts have been filled with £5.7m during the first six months of last year thanks to a long series of kidnappings and extortions.

Duterte has refused to negotiate with militant groups, and has threatened to declare martial law across the entire country. Martial law has already been declared in Mindanao since 23 May 2017.

Siege of Marawi

On 14 June, the Philippine Army confirmed the presence of American troops around Marawi. They were said to be offering strategic support but not engaging in direct combat. The military has intensified its daily bombing runs, with the logistical help of US special forces based in the nearby city of Zamboanga.

The targeted areas have a high population density, with more than 2,000 believed to still be in those areas.

While the bombings continue, more than 200,000 civilians have been displaced. The urban street fight between Maute and Filipino forces continues.

After setting the southern part of the city on fire and freeing prisoners from jail in the first weeks of the attack, rebels have now moved into the central part of Marawi, where they are trying to get control of three bridges linking the north part of the city. Heavy fighting has been reported around the city hall, the Amai Pakpak Medical Centre and Campo Ranao military base.

The Philippine Army claims rebels control 1/5 of the city. The militants are mainly based at mosques and madrasas, which compounds the difficulty of the military operation as these buildings are protected cultural sites.

The region history of violence

Islamist rebels responsible for the attack come from two factions; Maute and the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG), guided by Hapilon.

Hapilon is the Isis emir in south east Asia and pledged allegiance to the group in a YouTube video in 2014. The group's most significant terror attack was the bombing of a passenger ferry in 2004, which killed 114 people.

The ASG was formed in 1991 by Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani, a former Moro National Liberation Front member disillusioned by the group accepting autonomy instead of fighting for independence. He was said to have met Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan.

The attacks on Marawi mark the first time that movements born after Mindanao was granted autonomy have joined forces in an uprising against the national government. Isis channels have released propaganda videos, allegedly from Marawi, promoting victories over the army. One of the videos shows a public execution.

On 12 June, Filipino military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. spoke to local media, suggesting that Hapilon is currently in hiding in a militant stronghold inside the city and leading the battle.

Despite the optimism of the Philippine Army, the battle is ongoing and more local clans and foreign fighters are reported to have joined insurgencies in the nearby provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.