MANILA, Philippines — While disputing claims that the Philippines remains a global terrorism hotspot, a watchdog warned that Dawla Islamia, also known as IS or Daesh in the Philippines, has not been completely eliminated and continues to pose a security concern. In a statement issued days after the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney earlier this month, the Climate Conflict Action (CCAA), a conflict-monitoring and peacebuilding group, said the extremist group had been significantly degraded by sustained military operations since the 2017 Marawi siege, but stressed that recent developments showed the threat persists. “Dawla Islamia is down but not out,” the group said, pointing to the government’s announcement just a month earlier of the neutralization of two IS leaders, Abu Jihad and Mohammad Usman Suleiman. According to CCAA, these operations demonstrated that while large-scale extremist activity has declined, militant networks and leadership elements remained active. The group said the Bondi Beach incident reinforced the need for continued vigilance, especially amid indications of renewed extremist activity in areas previously considered free of violent extremism, including parts of Basilan. CCAA said it has observed signs of increased mobilization and polarization, citing renewed recruitment efforts targeting the youth and cases of young people breaking away from their families and clans. It also reported a spike in violent encounters between government forces and extremist-linked groups in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following recent midterm elections. The organization called on the Philippine government, as well as peacebuilding and development groups, to strengthen reintegration programs for former violent extremism combatants and their families. It said current approaches should move beyond a limited focus on preventing and countering violent extremism, urging more community-based and early-response initiatives anchored on sustainable reintegration and a restorative justice framework. CCAA said it remained committed to evidence-based analysis in addressing violent extremism and cautioned against speculation while investigations into the Bondi Beach attack are ongoing. “Premature conclusions that lack evidence risk fueling religious- and identity-based conflict and may obscure the deeper and more complex drivers of violence and radicalization,” the group said.