Civilians Arming in Troubled South Philippines

COTABATO, Philippines - Civilians in the Philippines are arming themselves against a rise in violence blamed on Islamist militants and Muslim separatists.

The governors of two southern provinces and a Roman Catholic bishop issued the warnings following a series of bombings in the south that have claimed eight lives and wounded dozens over the past week. Civilians began buying assault rifles at gun shops around the province even before last week's bombings due to a series of raids by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) separatist rebels on Christian communities.