Philippines ranks 10th in world terrorism index

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  —  The Philippines ranked 10th on the list of countries most impacted by terrorism based on the highest number of deaths related to terrorist attacks over a decade, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace in its 2018 Global Terrorist Index (GTI).

Topping the list is Iraq followed by Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, India, Yemen and Egypt. 

The index took into account the number of terrorist incidents in the country, the number of deaths from these incidents and the scale of their physical and psychological effects. 

Dubbed among the “emerging hotspots of terrorism,” the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia in the top 10.

The GTI report listed 326 people killed in the Philippines due to terrorist incidents last year, the highest in the country since 2002.

It was also rated 8th among countries with the highest increases in terrorism deaths worldwide. 

The report said the main driver of terrorist activity in countries like the Philippines was “exacerbated tensions between splinter terror groups and national governments.”

Among the worst attacks listed by the index was the siege of Marawi City by the Islamic State-Maute Group in 2017, which led to a five-month war with government forces.