Philippines: July 24, 2002

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 The MILF, feeling the heat from bad publicity, have announced they will also go after rogue rebels who have turned to banditry and kidnapping. As a result of army attacks over the last few years, thousands of rebels no longer have jungle camps to live in or steady supplies of food and other supplies. For years, the MILF was able to maintain it's remote camps and collect "taxes" from local civilians. When the army raided most of the camps in the last two years, many rebels found themselves armed and hungry. Many turned to banditry to survive, fearing that they might be arrested, or just bored, if they went back to their families.