MANILA, Philippines – A terrorism expert says there is a risk of further radicalization in the southern Philippines if there is unhappiness with the reconstruction of bombed-out Marawi city, where the government has declared victory over Islamic State group-aligned militants who laid siege to the city.
Sidney Jones, director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, also warned Wednesday that children and younger siblings of slain militants may emerge as a new generation of fighters.
She told journalists in Manila that reconstruction of the city is key, and that a new militant movement with a more Islamist stance could develop.
The military officially ended its offensive on Marawi on Oct. 23 after largely quelling the insurrection and sending a few remaining gunmen into hiding.
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