ABOUT THE COVER. The white background symbolizes purity and good life. The projective image of a deeply rooted tree with a sturdy trunk signifies resilience amidst life’s challenges. The tree’s overarching branches and leaves herald freedom and flourishing of life, leading to redemption with the Whole of Nation Approach. The wriggling roots indicate the core causes of terrorist behavior. The forest army green stands for a new life in mainstream society with the assistance of the Philippine Army and stakeholders, while the crimson red represents the old self demonstrating aggression. Cover design by Juan Paolo Magtira. Illustrations by Mari Paulyn Magtira. Layout and graphics design by Mark Lenard Magtira.
BEYOND the SURFACE
STORY of RESILIENCE and REDEMPTION
PSYCHOLOGY of TERRORIST
A BASIS for SOFT POWER APPROACH for FRIENDS RESCUED
ISBN: 978-621-8119-16-1
WRITTEN BY:
MOIBE F. OLITRES
FOREWORD BY:
ROLANDO JOSELITO D. BAUTISTA
EDITED BY:
JO-AR A. HERRERA
GEORGE V. YU JR.
MARLON C. MAGTIRA
PUBLISHED BY:
TERAMAG PUBLISHING
Quezon City, Philippines
Mobile Number: (+63) 917 7310984
E-mail: teramagpublishing@gmail.com
COPYRIGHT © 2022 TERAMAG PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book is protected by copyright under Republic of the Philippines laws and is the property of Dr. Moibe F. Olitres and Teramag Publishing. Copying, altering, reproduction, publishing, displaying, performing, modifying, creating derivative works, transmitting, or in any way exploiting any such content, nor distribution of the whole or any part of the content over any network, including a local area network, sell or offer it for sale, or use such content to construct any kind of database are expressly prohibited without prior written permission of Dr. Moibe F. Olitres and Teramag Publishing. For permission to use the content in this book, contact teramagpublishing@gmail.com.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD | A Basis for Soft Power Approach
Chapter 1 |Terrorism Through Time
Chapter 2 | Understanding Psychology of Terrorist
Chapter 3 | Revealing Childhood Stories
Chapter 4 | Conditions at Home Leading to Radicalization
Chapter 5 | Tactical Advantage Amid Youth Identity Formation
Chapter 6 | Geographical Challenges Limit Human Connections
Chapter 7 | Psychological Motivations in Terrorist Recruitment
Chapter 8 | Unfolding Psychology of Manipulation
Chapter 9 | Felt Experiences Embodying Whole of Nation Approach
Chapter 10 | Project Good Life for Friends Rescued
Epilogue | Toward Resilience and Redemption
Moibe F. Olitres, Ph.D., an authentic happiness advocate and positive psychology practitioner, holds doctorate in Clinical Psychology specializing in psychotherapy from Silliman Univerity and M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from Saint Columban College. She took her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the Mindanao State University. A licensed guidance counselor, Dr. Olitres is an instructor and guidance counselor at J.H. Cerilles State College and a candidate for Certified Gestalt Psychotherapist and Life Coach trained by Psychiatrist-Psychologist, Dr. Randy Dellosa. The chief researcher and founder of Good Life Psychological Services, Dr. Olitres is a motivational speaker and mental health and well-being consultant for various government and non-government organizations. She is a proponent of Project Good Life for Friends Rescued, an inclusive well-being psychoeducation program initiated by the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) in partnership with various organizations and national government agencies. With a goal to translate the result of her strength-based research inquiry among former CPP-NPA-NDF members at the 53IB to community extension service, Project Good Life is a need-based program for friends rescued to support President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Executive Order 70, institutionalizing the Whole of Nation Approach to end local communist armed conflict in the country.
Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista (Ret.), a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandiwa” Class of 1985, is the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Region 9. He is a leader who believes in empowerment as the blueprint for well-performing organizations. As the Commanding General of the Philippine Army, he led the formulations of new doctrines and changes in the army’s modernization program against terrorism, communist insurgencies, and external defense, as part of the lessons learned from urban warfare. As DSWD Secretary, he enforced an effective leadership meant for transforming the agency for sustainability and compassion.
Lt. Col. Jo-ar A. Herrera, the Commanding Officer of the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Masikhay” Class of 1999. He holds M.A. in Social and Development Studies from the University of the Philippines and took Psychological Operations Course at the US Army JFK Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Process-Oriented Psychology training at Worldwork, Portland, Oregon, USA. Lt. Col. Herrera speaks on leadership, conflict management, and counter-radicalization to diverse audiences to promote mutual understanding and effective collaboration among the next generation’s most important and influential leaders in places such as Manila, Hongkong, Seoul, China, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, and Denver, Indianapolis, Washington DC, Georgia, USA.
Marlon C. Magtira, holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of the Philippines Diliman where he was a faculty member at the College of Education. He is a journalist and online media strategist with over 25 years of experience at the forefront of Philippine news publishing. His professional career focuses on digital media transformation, online editorial strategy, and blending content with technology across both digital and print platforms.
1Lt. George V. Yu Jr., the Civil-Military Operations Officer of the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Alab-Tala” Class of 2018. He holds a Completion Certificate for New Approaches to Countering Terror: Countering Violent Extremism from the University of Maryland, USA.
