Philippines -rebels

Philippines drops bombs on Muslim rebels

Article published on the 2009-06-07 Latest update 2009-06-07 10:39 TU

Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel in training
(Credit: Wikipedia)

The Philippine military targeted Muslim insurgents on Sunday, dropping bombs and firing rockets in an area on the southern island of Mindanao, where the rebels believed to be hiding. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front confirmed that the military is dropping bombs on their positions. The group said that troops called for the bombing after rebels destroyed a military armoured personnel carrier in the town of Guindulungan.

The Philippines military said that the offensive was part of the operations to clear the area of Moro Islamic rebels. One of the camps had already been captured.

Fighting broke out between the military and the insurgents four days ago as the army tried to gain Guindulungan, where Moro Islamic Commander Ameril Umbrakato is said to be based.

An army spokesman said that 30 rebels had died in the army offensive. Soldiers did find a rebel training camp, including foxholes, bunkers and an administrative building.

Umbrakato is one of the commanders who led attacks against Christians last August across the island. Some 300 rebels and civilians died, and hundreds of thousands were internally displaced in the aftermath.

The Moro Islamic group carried out attacks after the Supreme Court cancelled a draft peace agreement between the government and the group. The text had called for the group to rule over a large part of the south of the country. The Philippines is largely Roman Catholic.