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 Zacharia’s 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.