Two hostage crises in the southern Philippines have been in the news for weeks, but less prominent is the spate of bombings that has plagued Manila this month. Four blasts occurred between May 6 and May 22, one other bomb was defused, and a bomb threat was received at the residence of a U.S. Embassy employee but no bomb was found. New People’s Army rebels claimed responsibility for one attack, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is suspected of staging the others. Analysts fear that the conflict in the south is spreading to the capital and a state of emergency is imminent. On a positive note, the MILF has agreed to resume peace talks with the government on May 30 after suspending them last month.
