Members of the Philippine Army take over Shopping Mall in Manila

CNN

[Truth666]

REBELS DEMAND ARROYO TO STEP DOWN accusing the government of

selling weapons to the moslem seperatists

[Steel Wolf]

The 5 pm deadline came and went without incident. The rebels in question are members of the Philippine Armed Forces, most of them from elite units like their special forces. Gloria extended the deadline indefinitely and says that the government is willing to talk. The rebel soldiers are being asked not to 'surrender' but to 'return to their barracks', implying there will be no punishment. The government seems averse to direct action to resolve the issue, and are being very polite to the disgruntled soldiers.

The rebels are the ones who have been fighting the Muslim seperatists the hardest, and one of their primary complaints is that the sitting government has been dragging their feet in the war on terrorist groups.

[Steel Wolf]

U.S. forces in the Philippines are not part of the equation. The rebels in question are very pro-military, and very anti-Islamic terrorist/separatist.

[eastforker]

BTTT,I had no idea this was going on.See what happens when you don't check in every day.Sometimes I refuse to turn on news or even to come to FR for a day just to take a break from the world but please keep me informed.

[LadyDoc]

If I remember correctly, the shopping mall is not near the presidential palace, but there is a nearby hotel where a lot of expatriots live.

Sounds like they are after money, not power....

This is not really anything big, but it will discourage outsiders from investing in the sagging economy....

[MadJack]

Victor Corpus, chief of intel for the AFP, and named as one of the key figures n this situation, is an honest man who deeply cares for his country. The young officers movement has existed for years, and is motivated by love for their country and the army, etc., as well as a desire to see their peoples' lot in life improve. If you've been there, you know what I mean.
Corruption in the Philippine gov't? Count on it. Good luck, Vic.

[AmericanInTokyo]

"Ex patriot" = A person who no longer loves his/her country of native birth.

"Ex patriate" = A person who goes overseas for any period of time to work, teach, serve as a missionary or in the military, or retire.

Two big different concepts here. I know, this one is incorrectly spelled all the time. Some people actually have a concept that to go overseas and work or spend some time means you do not love America.