Philippines to continue offensives against Muslim rebels
Soldiers have in the past week taken over more than a dozen camps controlled by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) leaders Umbra Kato and Abdurahman Macapaar, also known as Commander Bravo, on the southern island of Mindanao.
The two led deadly raids against mostly Christian towns on Mindanao in early August, triggering heavy reprisals from government forces. The fighting has claimed the lives of more than 100 rebels and more than 40 soldiers and civilians and forced more than 280,000 to flee their homes.
"Our operations against them are continuing even through the Ramadan," army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said over Manila radio. "There is no instruction for us to stop our offensive against the groups of Bravo and Kato. We cannot delay enforcement of laws."
He said the rebel leaders' forces had splintered into smaller groups on the run in the hinterland. The two men were said to be wounded and running low on ammunition amid the unrelenting offensive, which has put on hold any prospect of resuming peace talks with the separatists in the immediate term.
Kato and Bravo are hardline senior Milf members. They launched their attacks after the Supreme Court on August 4 blocked a deal that would have given the Milf control over an expanded Muslim autonomous area.
Torres said ground commanders had been ordered to make some "tactical adjustments" including assisting Muslims in evacuation camps who want to go to mosques and places of worship.
Ground commanders however also had the discretion to use necessary force to thwart any MILF attack, either through artillery or air bombardment of rebel positions.
"We will extend the necessary support so they can continue to observe their religious practices in this holy month of Ramadan," Torres said, referring to Muslim civilian communities.
The Milf has been waging a bloody rebellion since 1978 for an independent Islamic state on Mindanao. It signed a ceasefire with government in 2003, paving for talks that are now in peril amid the escalation of violence.