SOME quick arrests after a series of deadly bombings last month helped the government reassure people it is well on top of the threat posed by Islamic militants.
But the truth, many analysts say, is that the authorities are mostly playing catch-up, hobbled by a lack of funds, poor cooperation among agencies, corruption, and the difficulty of infiltrating the close-knit groups.
Despite years of training and on-the-ground advice by US special forces, the country is seen as one of the weakest links against terrorism in Southeast Asia, reinforced by a tendency to accuse and parade suspects on the slimmest of evidence.
"I have learned never to take Philippine government statements at face value until lots of other evidence is in," said Sidney Jones, an expert on Islamic militancy in the region at the International Crisis Group.
"I get the sense they don't really know what's going on."
From Stuart Grudgings of Reuters. READ IT ALL.
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