PHILIPPINES.

The general terrorism threat landscape in the Philippines has improved significantly. Through military and non-military interventions, terrorist elements across the country have retreated and surrendered. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has maintained its leadership decapitation strategy, killing significant leaders like Abu Zacariah and Pasil Bayali in 2023. The surrender of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)'s leader, Abu Turaife, also marked a significant development. Nonetheless, the threat still persists, as illustrated by the December 2023 deadly bomb attack at a gymnasium in Marawi City, and amid the persistence of factors such as the entrenched rido (clan wars) culture, the impending Bangsamoro elections and the persistence of poor conditions of vulnerable communities in conflict-afflicted Mindanao. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]