Philippines

Government intensifies rebel manhunt

Article published on the 2008-08-19 Latest update 2008-08-20 09:12 TU

A boy looks at his bicycle that was burned along with his house by MILF fighters.
(Photo: Reuters)

More troops have been deployed in the southern Philippines, a day after separatist fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, (MILF) killed some 38 people during raids on several towns. The Philippines government says the attack puts a recent peace deal with the MILF in jeopardy. Leaders of the rebel group say they are trying to restrain the fighters on the ground.

Dozens of others were injured and nearly 10,000 displaced by the fighting.

Guerillas had attacked towns and villages in Lanao del Norte and Sarangani provinces, looting businesses, burning houses and taking dozens of people hostage.

Military vice chief of staff Lieutenant General Cardoso Luna said troop reinforcements have been sent to the area to pursue the rebels, who fled into nearby woods and that "We will not stop until we catch up with them."

The upsurge of violence came after the Supreme Court blocked a land deal under which the government had agreed to expand an existing Muslim autonomous zone on Mindanao Island.

Senior leader and spokesman for the MILF Eyid Kabalu, told RFI that he was still positive the deal stands.

"I don't think this is in peril...agreement very much in place. All these issues can be addressed by the ceasefire agreement," he said.

 

President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman called for calm, but admitted that peace talks had been thrown into chaos. 

The raids on Monday came a day after rebels ambushed a military convoy, killing four soldiers and three pro-government militiamen.

The MILF signed a ceasefire agreement with Manila in 2003 that opened the way for peace talks. The 30-year rebellion has left more than 120,000 people dead in the southern Philippines.