January 24, 2008: Increased threats against Christian clergy in the south has led to assigning soldiers as bodyguards. For over a century, southern Moslems have been converting to Christianity, seeing it as a more modern and helpful religion. This angers the Moslem traditionalists, who point out that Moslem scripture calls for those who convert, to be executed. However, killing converts tends to create more hostility towards Islam. Thus the current campaign against Christian clergy, which only makes the government angrier at the Islamic militants. That's nothing new.

January 19, 2008: In the south, police arrested one of the Abu Sayyaf leaders of the ambush that killed 14 marines last July. The man had a $12,000 price on his head.

January 18, 2008: About 360 kilometers southeast of the capital, an army patrol encountered some NPA gunmen. Four rebels were killed.

January 16, 2008: A priest was killed in the south, while resisting kidnappers. This took place on the island of Tawi-Tawi, where Islamic militants, like Abu Sayyaf, are trying to drive out the Christian minority. The Islamic militants believe it is forbidden for Christians to convert Moslems, but not the other way around. In many Moslem nations, this notion is actually the law.