KAMINKAP primarily operates in the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, and the city of General Santos, and secondarily in the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato and the city of Cotabato. These locations have been identified as among the conflict affected areas by the Coordinating Council for the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), since their proximity to the scenes of fierce fighting between the government and MILF forces over the last few years have made them the evacuation points of internally displaced persons or IDPs. The latest government-MILF clash, which was the so-called Buliok complex war in February last of 2003 had effectively displaced at least 200,000 residents. If the claims of both government and rebel sides are to be taken into consideration, it is unclear which side really initiated the attacks and what causes had resulted to the same.

In each of these geographical subdivisions, cadres of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, who are sympathetic to the Moro communities, as well as elements of the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army, who are sympathetic to the rural farmers and fisherfolk, particularly on the Indigenous communities, are known to operate clandestinely, but have successfully conducted sporadic or isolated attacks on military and law enforcement detachments.

A large concentration of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas are also found in the area, from its 204th Brigade which covers the entire SOCSKSARGEN area. An even larger concentration exists in the Maguindanao area, which is closer to the heart of the recent fighting, the Buliok Complex.

From an estimated strength of less than 200 armed regulars in 2002, the New People's Army (NPA) in SOCSKSARGEN has considerably built up its arms and manpower and is expected to reach more than 500 members. In a security report obtained by MindaNews, Maj. Michael Malasa, commander of the Army's 11th Special Forces Battalion, said the NPA strength in the area has been increasing and is now estimated at about 470, equipped with 916 low and high-powered firearms and several pieces of radio communication equipment. Three NPA Front Committees--Fronts 71, 73 and 74--are reportedly operating in the SOCSKSARGEN area and nearby Davao del Sur, and are directly under the Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) Command which also has a Main Regional Guerrilla Unit (MRGU) codenamed "Eduardo Imperial Command."

Maguindanao is part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It is ranked as the sixth poorest province in the Philippines and the fifth province with the most severe poverty. In October 2001, 3,140 families (15,708 persons) of the province were internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in thirty (30) evacuation centers. The remaining 3,619 families (17,842 persons)—also displaced by war in 2000—had earlier returned to their communities of origin or settled in new locations before October 2001.

Also known as Cotabato Province, it is bounded on the north by Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur; on the east by Davao City; southeast by Davao del Sur; south by Sultan Kudarat and southwest by Maguindanao. It is one of the twenty provinces in Mindanao listed as among the poorest in the Philippines. It has a total population of 918,992 based on the 2000 official Census. Its component capital is Kidapawan City. Together with Maguindanao, it is the most affected province in the war between the military and the MILF.

The southernmost province in mainland Mindanao. It is composed of seven municipalities. It is teh poorest non-moro predominant province in the Philippines. Sarangani has the highest depth of poverty in the Philippines, with an income gap of 40.4%. Among the poor provinces with severe poverty, Sarangani is ranked second in the entire Philippines. Its capital is the municipality of Alabel, where the Provincial Capitol is located. Sarangani’s population in the 1995 Census was placed at 367,006.

The southern most province in mainland Mindanao. It is composed of seven municipalities. Its capital is the component city of Korondadal, where the Provincial Capitol is located. The province is bounded by Sultan Kudarat in the north and west, in the east by Davao del Sur and in the South by the province of Sarangani and General Santos city. South Cotabato is a conflict prone area and, to a lesser degree, a host location for internally displaced persons.

As of May 2000 census the total population of South Cotabato is 690,728. The bulk of the province's population is from ages 10-29 years old which is about 42% of the total population and with a density of 186/sq.m.. Around 77% of the total population is Christians, 10% are Lumads, 4% are Muslims and others 9%.

Named after the most famous sultan of Maguidnanao, Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat, the province is situated between the provinces of Maguindanao and Cotabato to the north and South Cotabato and Sarangani to the south. It is the eighth poorest province in the Philippines. Three community groups inhabit Sultan Kudarat – the Tribal Filipinos, the Muslim Filipinos and the Christian Filipinos. Sultan Kudarat has a total population of 435,454. Although still in great number, the Maguindanaons and other cultural groups like the Iranuns, Manobos and Tirurays are now outnumbered by largely Catholic-Christian migrants from the Visayas and Luzon. Sultan Kudarat is a conflict prone area and, to a lesser degree, a host location for internally displaced persons.