The IS’ efforts to make the southern Philippines, especially Mindanao, the basis of a new caliphate by utilizing the existence and role of its followers, supporters and sympathizers around Southeast Asia has been successful, as scholar Richard C. Paddock notes. In the region, the use of sophisticated weapons, drones and unlimited ammunition, enabled by among other things funding from outside, raises deep concern among regional leaders about the development of the region as a center for IS resistance in Southeast Asia.

The Philippines' and United States' governments have detected a flow of US$55,000 from IS, sent by Bahrum Naim, as cited by the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, to his cells and networks in Indonesia.

This figure, said to be the mastermind of the January 2016 attack in Central Jakarta, was among those who reportedly wished for an IS base in south Philippines. Another Indonesian, Bachrumsyah, whose death is unconfirmed, led the Khatibah Nusantara, the forerunner of IS resistance in the southern Philippines.

The funds were sent through Achmad Supriyanto alias Damar, a Jamaah Ansharut Daulah member in Banten, who then sent it to the Philippines through the Western Union service. The transfers were later detected by Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

There was additional transfer of $600,000 from IS in the Middle East to Mahmud Ahmad, identified as a former lecturer and IS follower in Malaysia, who was in the IS circle of the command structure of action in Marawi, Philippines.

All of the IS funds from the Middle East were sent for spreading its mission in Southeast Asia, thus encouraging leaders in the region to jointly anticipate terrorist attacks.