November 27, 2007:
On Basilan, a local politician was arrested for involvement in the
bombing death of another local politician outside the House of Representatives
last week. The bomb was built and transported with the assistance of Abu Sayyaf
members. Local politics in the south can get deadly. The two main groups down
there are those who are willing to work with the Christian majority (like the
dead Representative) and those who want an independent, or at least very autonomous,
Moslem state in the south (like the Representatives killers). On top of this
you have the usual corruption and clan rivalries and feuds.
November 26, 2007: Troops and police in the north
are being withdrawn from counter-terror operations against communist NPA
rebels, and being shifted to dealing with storm related emergencies. A major
typhoon (Pacific hurricane) is headed for the area.
November 25, 2007: Britain warned its citizens
against visiting the Moslem south in the Philippines, especially those area
(like Basilan and Jolo islands) where military operations are under way.
Britain believes Islamic radicals might attempt to harm, or kidnap, British
citizens.
November 22, 2007: In the south, a bomb went off in
a mall, killing one and wounding at least six others.
