The Climate Conflict Action warned the national government of the continuous recruitment and training of the Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) in Lanao and Maguindanao areas, saying the ambush military personnel that left four soldiers dead in Munai, Lanao del Norte on Jan. 23 is proof of an escalating violent extremism.

In a statement, the CCAA said it has been monitoring an increase in violent extremism in Mindanao since 2024— 23 incidents in 2024 to 44 cases in 2025, which it said, represents a 91 percent surge.

For this year, the group said the ambush in Barangay Lininding in Munai town which was allegedly carried out by the DI , is both a profound tragedy and a compelling reminder of an escalating threat that demands immediate, comprehensive action.

“While we urge caution against hasty conclusions that could fuel religious and identity-based polarization, the Lininding ambush demonstrates unequivocally that recruitment and training are ongoing, DI numbers are growing, and their operational capabilities have advanced to the point of successfully re-engaging security forces,” the CCAA said.

The group said there is a need for immediate government action since it could escalate into a big problem during the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections and even bigger issues in the 2028 national polls.

The threat of violent extremism, it said, has the potential to destabilize an already fragile peace and undermine the hard-won gains of the Bangsamoro political settlement.

In pushing back violent extremism, the CCAA emphasized a state and society approach that goes beyond a hard and exclusive security response, “Cooperation between government authorities at all levels and civil society groups is necessary too.”

Among the CCAA’s recommendations were comprehensive innovative reintegration mechanisms that employ restorative justice approaches for former combatants and their families; robust social support systems for families and communities, particularly youth, to prevent the deepening of grievances that fuel recruitment; and, sustained investment in community resilience programs that address economic marginalization, social exclusion, and the structural conditions that make vulnerable populations susceptible to extremist narratives

The group also pointed out that shared vigilance must be matched by government action that addresses root causes, provides genuine alternatives, and protects the rights and dignity of all community members.

“The future of the Bangsamoro peace process, and the lives of our youth, depend on comprehensive, rights-based, and effective responses to violent extremism. The time to act decisively is now,” the CCAA said.