December 6, 2005: Americans in the Philippines were warned, by the U.S. government, to exercise extra care against possible Islamic terrorist attack. Along with that, the U.S. embassy was closed for a while, because of the terrorist threat.
December 5, 2005: In an unusual outcome of an anti-corruption case, an army major-general (the chief finance officer of the army), received two years in prison for stealing $5.6 million. The officer's official salary was $500 a month. Despite anti-corruption efforts, corruption appears to have become worse in the Philippines.
December 2, 2005: The fighting on Jolo has faded away, as Abu Sayyaf gunmen scattered to avoid the superior firepower of the troops and police massed against them.
November 30, 2005: The U.S. government has frozen assets of three suspected Abu Sayyaf leaders (Jainal Antel Sali Jr., Radulan Sahiron and Isnilon Totoni Hapilon). It is also now illegal for Americans to send these men any money. This is intended to make it more difficult for Abu Sayyaf to get money from supporters in the United States.
