It will also win the Philippine military some kudos in Washington if it delivers a few more telling blows against regional terrorist outfit Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf militants.

• 菲律宾人口主要是基督徒，但占少数的穆斯林主要生活在菲律宾的南部岛屿。数十年来，许多团体组织都为在南部建立独立国家而战。