A Genealogical Study of the History of Philippine Terrorism

The history of terrorist acts in the Philippines is the focus of this paper. Each act of terrorism has a unique goal, but the most common goal is to undermine the power of a state's government. Terrorism is not an act committed by individuals, but by groups that have made decisions based on shared beliefs and commitments, even if these individuals have different commitments and beliefs toward the group. The researcher used observation through the experience of researchers when they were involved in various activities related to Philippine terrorists, such as the release of Indonesian citizens held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group and the evacuation of 17 Indonesian citizens who were members of the Jemaah Tabligh who were trapped in two locations in Marawi City for five months at the hands of terrorists. MNLF, MILF, ASG, National Intelligence Coordination Agency, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) researchers collaborate on these activities. Observation becomes the foundation for researchers interested in answering research questions through the experience of researchers who have been directly involved in missions to rescue the phenomenon of terrorism in the Philippines. During the observation, the researcher maintained contact with Philippines terrorists and security forces. The identification results in this paper include at least three aspects that underpin terrorist acts in the Philippines, namely conflict history, economic conditions, and religious disparities. These three factors have all played a role in the history of terrorism in the Philippines.