The weakness in this case comes from the top, El Presidente, to be sure. I recall the fiasco in Zamboanga City back in 2012, that the Phil Government made sure did not get publicised to the world, in the fear it would affect tourism and investment I suspect. Many hostages were taken by rebels, and some killed, and some civilian bystanders were also killed and injured. Many homes were torched, and thousands homeless for the next 18 months. Then the Govt negotiated with the rebels - and accepted some of them into the Phil army - what utter BS -