ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I investigate whether the dynamics of the post-9/11 securitization of the threat of terrorism have been instrumental to the creation of measures addressing Islamic terrorism in the Philippines. Here, I look into the parallel mobilization of counterterrorism measures embedded within rhetoric and the practices that were created during the administrations of Arroyo (2001-2010), Aquino (2010-2016), and Duterte (2016-present) against the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and its affiliates. With this, I try to emphasize the role of elite actors who facilitate dependency on the US agenda and the willingness to securitize the ‘other.’ This work is thus anchored in the framework of securitization, wherein a security issue is constructed through a process where a speech act results in an intersubjective understanding justifying extraordinary responses to address an existential threat to a valued referent object (Buzan, Waever, & de Wilde, 1998, p. 21). This framework is utilized to account for the equally important issue of the intended and unintended consequences brought about by securitizing an issue. It tries to answer the question ‘Whom or what is benefited by the securitization?.’ This, then, proceeds in the succeeding sections. I start this chapter by presenting the post-9/11 securitization of the threat of terrorism. Then, I draw attention to related studies that utilized and developed securitization in the non-West that guide this chapter. I then proceed to frame the mobilization of counterterrorism measures against ASG in the context of securitization to expound on its implications.
