Insurgencies versus our government ; would this just be a political game?

How I wish I could answer with a big "NO!". However I can't help believing it sometimes specially after doing some work in Mindanao for a year. I thought that some of the Muslims I came close with are just anti-US and anti-government when they shared their thoughts about the peace situation in their area. They believe that there are only few rebels who got only few real supporters. They can not understand though how these rebels can not be conquered by battalions of well-funded soldiers who have been marching all around Mindanao for how many decades. They said it's because these rebel groups are actually formed by government troops for purposes of raking money. I think the idea is really absurd. But with what's happening now with the government and the situation there in the south, it's no longer hard to believe that this is just another political game.