Visayan Peoples Front

At the time of Belesia’s independence and formation as a Federation, numerous Christians, unhappy with what they saw of as Islamification of the islands, began open hostilities against the newly formed Belesian government. Arcadio Palmero, a professor at the University of Cebu formed the Visayan Peoples Front (VPF), an armed insurgent group, committed to establishing an independent entity composed of the islands of Panay, Negros, Cebu and Bohol. Initially, the stated goal was a separate secular state, but over time, the VPF also demanded the exclusion of Muslims and creation of a Christian nation. The government responded with a counter-insurgency strategy rooted in assassination, sabotage, and subversion. The violence between the factions as well as the Belesian government reached a peak a decade ago. Since then, all sides have pledged to a commitment to peace. However, skirmishes still occur, and the President has threatened to place entire islands under a state of martial law.