The government has achieved a major victory in the war on terrorism with the recent neutralization of Abu Zacharia, said to be the emir or top leader
of the Daulah Islamiyah (DI).
This is a significant achievement as the
group is said to be linked to the terrorist Islamic State
(IS).
The armed forces and the Philippine National Police worked in close collaboration to achieve this
breakthrough in restoring peace in Muslim Mindanao.
News reports said combined forces of the police and
military were trying to serve an arrest warrant on Abu
Zacharia in a house at Barangay Bangon in Marawi
City when they were met with fierce resistance.
Zacharia reportedly threw two grenades and
an improvised bomb made from a 60mm mortar shell
to prevent the advance of policemen and soldiers,
triggering a 10-minute gunfight that led to his death.
Abu Zacharia assumed the leadership of the
terror group after Owaida Marohombsar, known as
Abu Dhar, was slain in a clash with soldiers in Lanao
del Sur province in March 2019.
In March 2022, the military announced that
Abu Zacharia assumed leadership of the so-called Islamic State of East Asia Province that includes neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.
In a follow-up operation in another house in
Bangon, a top aide of Abu Zacharia was also killed by
authorities.
Joharie Sandab alias Morsid, a DI subleader
believed to be in charge of finance and logistics, allegedly hurled a grenade at government troops but it
did not explode.
Another gunfight broke out, resulting in the
death of Morsid.
After the raid on Abu Zachariaโs house, authorities tried to pacify the community as residents became agitated.
The residents were also advised not to come
out of their houses as soldiers and policemen were
conducting clearing operations.
The portion of the national highway passing
through the village was closed to traffic.
The recent hostilities between government
forces and the Daulah Islamiya in Lanao del Sur highlight the continuing threat from terror groups in Muslim
Mindanao.
While it is possible that the Daulah Islamiyah
and the remnants of the Maute Group that could still
have sub-leaders and members capable of launching bombings and other terrorist activities, it is highly
unlikely that they are organized enough to repeat the
Marawi siege in 2017.
Even then, the government cannot afford to
let its guard down and monitor any resurgence of terrorist activities that have been with the establishment
of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (BARMM).
With this regional entity, the national government can embark on a whole-of-society approach to
solve the security challenges in Muslim Mindanao,
and conduct socio-economic activities that will improve the lives of Muslim Filipinos.
