Abstract

Dr. Rommel C. Banlaoi, an esteemed expert in political science and security studies, will share his views of the key security strategies of the Marcos Jr. administration, which came to power in 2022. This lecture explores the administration’s approach to two critical fronts of national security under the leadership of President Marcos Jr: the Philippines-China relations, and counterterrorism efforts in the country. Dr Banlaoi will discuss the Marcos Jr administration’s diplomatic relations with China, particularly with respect to managing the North Philippines Sea. He will also detail the administration’s counterterrorism policies against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and Dawlah Islamiyah.

About the Speaker

Dr. Rommel C. Banlaoi is the Chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) while serving as the President of the Philippine Society for Intelligence and Security Studies (PSISS) and Convenor of the Network for the Prevention of Violent Extremism in the Philippines (NPVEP).  He served as Chairman of the Council for Asian Terrorism Research (CATR) and a Non-Resident Fellow of the Center for Global Counterterrorism Cooperation (CGCC). Dr. Banlaoi has three decades of academic experience in several Philippines’ universities. He is a Professorial Lecturer at the Department of International Studies, Miriam College, the Philippines. He took his PhD (ABD) at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) where he finished his BA and MA in Political Science.  He obtained his PhD in International Relations at Jinan University, Guangzhou, China where he sits on the advisory board of its Center for Philippine Studies. He is the President of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS) and member of the management board of the World Association for Chinese Studies (WACS). Dr. Banlaoi is the author of several books, journal articles and book chapters on terrorism issues in the Philippines, particularly on the Abu Sayyaf Group.