WORDS MATTER. A retired soldier get riled up whenever people (sometimes journalists) mix up the words "bandits" and "rebels" when referring to groups like the NPA, MILF, Maute Group, Abu Sayyaf, and the like.
He said it is easy to distinguish one from the other; rebels fight for principles while bandits do it for money. He said it disappoints him whenever the Abu Sayyaf are called rebels as if they have noble goals other than personal gain.
However, he also said over the many years he was assigned to areas with insurgents, it was not uncommon for some rebels to turn to banditry to survive, thus blurring the lines.