#philippine security

By Cliff Potts, CSO, and Editor-in-Chief of WPS NewsBaybay City, Leyte, Philippines — July 10, 2026 Global Context WPS News reports on international events because the Philippines does not exist in isolation. Decisions made outside the country affect trade routes, fuel prices, food supply, security arrangements, and diplomatic pressure in the region. Understanding what happens elsewhere helps…

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/17/10/rp-top-10-countries-risk-terrorists

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is among the top 10 countries in the world most at risk from terrorist attacks, according to global analyst Maplecroft.

The Philippines ranked 10th in Maplecroft's annual Terrorism Risk Index of 162 countries, making it a "high risk" country for terrorist attacks. On the other hand, its close neighbor, Thailand, dropped two places and placed 9th in the index due to the October 2009 bomb attacks near the Malaysia-Thailand border.

The Terrorism Risk Index (TRI) has been developed by Maplecroft for companies to assess terrorism risks to their international assets. The index measures not only the risks of an attack, but also the chances of mass casualties occurring.

MY NOTES:  Malacañang's reaction is not surprising:  "Palace wants closer look at terror data"

-- http://globalnation.inquirer.net/114679/palace-wants-closer-look-at-terror-data/

I think our standards of internal security are so low that the Philippine government is surprised when the country is listed in the top ten countries at risk to terror threats -- which put in another way, we are the top 10 most vulnerable to terror attacks, and therefore, the top 10 dangerous places in the world.

But if we compare ourselves to our Southeast Asian neighbors, we should not be wondering why we have been assessed as such.  Our neighbors don't have five active insurgencies happening simultaneously.  We do:  the communist New People's Army; the Moro Islamic Liberation Front -- yes, we are in ceasefire with them but the peace agreement still has a long way to go in getting approved in Congress; the Moro National Liberation Front, a faction of the MNLF, which signed a peace pact with the PH government, is now in conflict with the Government due to provisions of the 1996 agreement that have not been implemented; the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, breakaway from MILF; and the Abu Sayyaf, extremist, criminal gang that kidnaps for ransom and beheads their captives if they don't get the money. 

At least 10 soldiers have been killed lately in the government's skirmishes with the Abu Sayyaf.  Scores are wounded.  And there are shootings and assassinations of policemen and soldiers by the NPA almost every week.  (This does not include the private armed groups that on the orders of local warlords, kill their political enemies during the election campaign season.) So, President Aquino should not be surprised that we are in the top 10.