Marawi siege, a step to separate Mindanao

Batas Mauricio

GOVERNMENT data and media reports present more accounts of the efforts of Filipino terrorist groups, acting in concert with the international terror organization called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), to wrest control of, and separate, the whole of Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines, and make it a “wilayah” or a province of the Isis.

These data and reports confirm the unification of all previously unrelated terror groups spearheading violence, murder, and kidnappings in Mindanao under the leadership of Isnilon Hapilon, who has been established as the emir, or the undisputed leader, of all these groups, on the backing of the Isis itself.

The same data and reports prove that on Dec. 31, 2016, or just seven months ago, Hapilon and about 30 other men, backed up by eight foreign terrorists, were sighted in Lanao del Sur. Government data claim that Hapilon performed what is known as a “hijra” or a pilgrimage to unite with the other Isis groups in Mindanao.

According to government lawyers, Hapilon’s “hijra” was in pursuance of a five-step process intended to make the entire island of Mindanao a “wilayah” or a province of the Isis. The five-step process, government data show, start off with the pledging of allegiance to the Isis.

The other four steps are the following: the unification of all terrorist groups which have also pledged their allegiance to the Isis; the holding of consultations to nominate a “wali”, or the governor of a “wilayah”; the achievement of consolidation for the caliphate through the conduct of widespread atrocities and uprisings all across Mindanao; and the presentation of all of these for the approval and recognition of Isis.

It is claimed by the government that the election of Hapilon as the “emir” or leader of all Isis-inspired groups in the Philippines already constitutes the third step in the aforesaid five-step process to establish Mindanao a province of the Isis.

With Hapilon’s leadership of all Isis-inspired groups in Mindanao, government lawyers claim that other groups will similarly unite under him, with one single purpose at the moment: to dismember the Republic of the Philippines by the secession of Mindanao, and its full establishment as a province of the Isis.

True enough, government data say, grave terrorist activities have been undertaken with frequency in Southern Philippines, highlighted by the consolidation of forces of some 105 rebel members from the Abu Sayyaf, the Maute group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, with foreign forces.

Then, the government noted increased military encounters with the Isis-inspired groups. God willing, we shall try to point out these military encounters, according to data provided by government.

E-mail: batasmauricio@yahoo.com