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Rebels of Mindanao is a 2008 novel by Tom Anthony. The story follows the adventures of Thomas Thornton, a retired Special Ops Officer who is recruited by the military to stop a coup attempt by Islamic extremists on the Island of Mindanao, Philippines. The novel was originally published in the United States by Beaufort Books in 2008. The book is a work of fiction, and is inspired in part by the author’s life experiences living in the Philippines.

Plot
Thomas Thornton, a washed-up US Special Ops officer living peacefully on the island of Mindanao is recruited to find and kill the leader of a local Al Qaeda cell that is trying to overthrow the government and replace it with an Islamic republic. The central government of the Philippines in Manila cannot accept the loss of Mindanao; the US needs to defend its oldest ally in Asia, and gets involved in yet another war for democracy.

Thornton’s former boss, General Hargens, locates him in Davao, Mindanao at the Lady Love strip club while beautiful twins dance in front of a mirror on stage. He embarrasses Thornton, reminds him of his past failures in Eastern Europe and gives him a chance to clean up and redeem himself. Thornton accepts the mission to take out the Turk bringing in cash to corrupt the election. The deal: take out the Turk, keep their money.

The Turk infiltrates into Mindanao and hooks up with Leteef, the military leader of the rebels, to deliver the cash. Colonel Liu, Philippine Army, meets his old friend, Thornton, at the airport in Manila. Hargens wants them to work together. They drive to the US Embassy. Elaiza, a young Filipina technician is assigned to Thornton to use electronic devices to track the Turk.

Elaiza takes Thornton to Agusan province to recruit a crew of tough Manobo tribesmen. The last Philippine Eagle “Kabayan” soars in the distance.

Mahir infiltrates into Davao with a hit team and explosives hidden within a flowered float entered into the annual Kadayawan street parade. The chase starts.

Thornton and Elaiza bond while trailing The Turk through the jungle. During an artillery barrage, The Turk captures Elaiza. Thornton is devastated and again is a failure. Thornton and the Manobo team return to Davao. Thornton angrily confronts Liu: why was the artillery off target? Thornton hurries to the consulate, sees written on the computer screen a scrawling “Tomas”, and realizes Elaiza is alive.

Thornton gets a helicopter flight out of Davao LZ Koronadal. Thornton arrives in the helicopter and gets the exact location of Mahir, The Turk, and Elaiza, from Liu’s Fire Direction Center. Aided by Elaiza’s messages, they have spotted the rebel remnants circling around Mt. Apo. On Mt Apo, Thornton and the Manobo team find Mahir, dragging Elaiza after him with her hands tied. Thornton charges Mahir, hand-to-hand combat ensues. Thornton whispers in Mahir’s ear as he kills him, runs to Elaiza, who cannot hear.

Agusan River Bank. Thornton takes Elaiza to visit her mother’s grave. Elaiza, now able to hear again, is surprised when Thornton pulls the bag of money he had hidden under her mother’s tombstone.

Augusan River Bank. Months have passed. Thornton and an obviously pregnant Elaiza push mango tree seedlings into soft loamy, soil. They look into the distance toward Mt. Apo. Kabayan flies, now with his mate, no longer the last Philippine Eagle.

Publication History
The hardcover edition of Rebels of Mindanao was published by Beaufort Books in June 2008, reaching #4 on Amazon’s Kindle Bestseller list on January 25, 2012.