Analyst Heydarian's take on suicide bombings in PHL

The explosion in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last week that put at least seven people in the hospital was only the latest of attacks believed to be carried out by suicide bombers in the country.

The Philippines supposedly saw its first  case of suicide bombing in July 2018 when a van exploded in Lamitan, Basilan. Another suspected case was the deadly twin bombings at the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu in January of this year.

On GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday, GMA's resident political analyst Prof. Richard Heydarian discussed some key factors on the apparent suicide bombing "phenomenon," as well as ways on how to prevent the occurrence of similar terrorist acts the future.

"Ang hirap pong labanin ang suicide bombing because kung 'yung extremist person na yan ay desidido na gumawa ng terrorist act, mahirap i-stop yung person na 'yan if gusto niya talagang mag-suicide bombing," he pointed out.

The "discontent" with the development efforts for post-liberation Marawi City, which was besieged in a five-month-long armed conflict that began May 2017, is another thing to consider, Heydarian said.

"Natalo po natin ang Maute brothers, wala na po 'yung ISIS seige diyan sa Marawi, pero ang problema naman ngayon is baka naman 'yung mga tao na may discontent at may disgruntlement at hindi natutuwa sa pagbagal ng reconstruction ng Marawi ay puwedeng hindi lang sumali sa mga terrorist group pero gumamit din ng mga nakakatakot na tactics katulad ng suicide bombing," he said.

For the people to "move forward," the political analyst emphasized that a large part of the fight against terrorism rests on the government.

The possible lifting or extension of martial law in Mindanao, for one, is being discussed, together with other measures to bolster national security.

However, according to Heydarian: "Ang mahalaga dito is hindi yung martial law pero yung effective counter-terrorism measures."

"Ang kailangan po dito ay very effective intelligence gathering and intelligence cooperation," he said. "Hindi lang with America na tumulong sa atin doon sa liberation ng Marawi, pero 'yung mga new allies natin including China and Russia, and 'yung mga ASEAN allies natin na napaka-effective ng counter-terrorism measures, katulad ng Singapore."

"Lastly, ang mahalaga rin dito is we push back recruitment strategy ng isis at ibang extremist groups dito sa Metro Manila at sa Luzon dahil may masama rin silang balak dito sa Luzon at iba't ibang Region ng Pilipinas." —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News