In anticipation of next month’s national elections, the Philippines have experienced a significant increase in military activity. Government officials are worried about insurgent activity, which has persisted in the region for decades. The primary activist group in question is the Maoist New People’s Army, who hope for the creation of a Muslim state separate from the Philippines, which is mostly Roman Catholic.
The Philippines are an important U.S. ally in the battle against terrorism in southeast Asia. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has attempted to curb insurgency for years, but term limits ensure that a new leader will take the reins this June.
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