As President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has faced the
problem of guerrilla activity by separatist Islamic fundamentalists in
the south of the country. The separatists, who have kidnapped and
murdered foreign tourists and others, have been linked to al-Qaeda by
the US government. President
George W. Bush received her on an official state
visit and they issued a joint statement on the deployment of American
troops in the Philippines. Arroyo ended the ceasefire with the rebels
and Bush promised military support. Bush also declared the Philippines
a "major non-Nato ally." [May 2003]
