Manila, January 28, 2026 — Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief LtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered heightened surveillance and intelligence operations to counter potential terrorist recruitment and training activities in Mindanao, a region still navigating the complexities of peace and security.
Rising Extremism Concerns in Mindanao
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Authorities are responding to warnings of renewed activity by extremist groups in the southern Philippines.
- LtGen. Nartatez Jr. emphasized ongoing coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the country’s intelligence community.
- A recent ambush in Lanao del Norte, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers, has raised alarms about Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) activity.
- The Climate Conflict Action Asia (CCAA) reports a 91 percent surge in violent extremist incidents between 2024 and 2025.
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed a firm stance against internal security threats in the Bangsamoro region.
Nartatez stated that all received information is taken seriously, acknowledging the progress made in improving peace and development in formerly conflict-ridden areas of Mindanao. He affirmed continued collaboration with the AFP to monitor the evolving situation on the ground. “We treat all the information we receive seriously,” Nartatez said in a statement on Sunday.
Q: What is the PNP doing to address the threat of terrorism in Mindanao?
A: The PNP, under LtGen. Nartatez Jr., has ordered increased monitoring, intensified intelligence gathering, and close coordination with the AFP and intelligence agencies to preempt terrorist plans and maintain peace and order.
Recent Attack Fuels Concerns
The increased vigilance follows a warning from a violence monitoring and peace advocacy group regarding alleged recruitment and training by Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) in the provinces of Lanao and Maguindanao. This alert came after a Jan. 23 ambush in Munai, Lanao del Norte, which claimed the lives of four soldiers. Suspected members of the DI-Maute Group allegedly attacked government forces engaged in non-combat security operations supporting community development.
Personnel in Lanao and Maguindanao have been instructed to remain vigilant against any threats to peace and order, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to maintain a resolute approach to internal security threats and ensure the stability of the Bangsamoro region. Nartatez highlighted that strict monitoring and intervention measures are standard protocol for sustaining the national government’s achievements in promoting peace and development in Mindanao.
Data Shows Increase in Extremist Activity
The Climate Conflict Action Asia (CCAA) previously warned of a potential resurgence of violent extremism in Mindanao following the Jan. 23 ambush in Lininding, Munai, Lanao del Norte. The CCAA asserted that the attack, attributed to Dawlah Islamiyah (DI), signaled an escalating security risk in and around the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts and peace initiatives.
According to data from the CCAA’s Critical Events Monitoring System, violent extremist incidents increased sharply, rising by 91 percent from 23 cases in 2024 to 44 in 2025. These incidents encompassed armed clashes between DI and state forces, resulting in at least 30 fatalities, the apprehension of suspected financiers and drug traffickers linked to extremist networks, and the seizure of weaponry, including M16 rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, and improvised explosive devices.
The CCAA also reported observing sustained recruitment efforts over the past two years, indicating that extremist groups are re-establishing a presence in parts of Lanao and Maguindanao, and reappearing in areas previously considered free of Islamic State-affiliated groups.
