December
7, 2006: Foreign governments are warning their citizens to stay away from Cebu,
in the Philippines, next week, because a meeting of national big shots from
ASEAN is expected to attract Islamic terrorists. The VIPs will probably
survive, but less prominent bystanders may be in danger.
December
6, 2006: The army captured an NPA training camp on Panay Island, using an
infantry battalion and some police. The troops had been encountering groups of
up to fifty NPA rebels in the area, and after a week of scouting, the NPA camp
was found and overrun.
December
5, 2006: There will be no Christmas ceasefire, with the various rebel
organizations, this year. In the past few years, too many of the bad guys took
advantage of the ceasefire, so this year, there won't be one. The ceasefires
had been a custom since 1986.
December
4, 2006: Another 2,000 marines are being sent to Jolo Island, where 6,000
troops are already trying to capture several hundred Abu Sayyaf terrorists. The
Islamic rebels have been hiding from the troops for four months, although there
abundant signs (from captured documents and people) that the Abu Sayyaf members
are feeling the strain. The additional marines, it is hoped, will make it
possible to finish the job. So far, twenty troops and fifty rebels have died.
