Philippine police complaint of breakaway rebels

Philippine police say they have filed multiple murder and kidnapping complaints against the leader and more than 100 members of a breakaway rebel group for a rampage last month that resulted in the deaths of dozens of combatants and the displacement of thousands of villagers.

Police investigator Samuel Pagdilao said Wednesday that complaints were filed with prosecutors in southern Maguindanao province against Ameril Umbra Kato and 113 other militants in the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement.

Kato's forces attacked several army camps and outposts in Maguindanao on Aug 5, killing six soldiers, a police officer and at least two villagers. About 50 rebels were killed in an army offensive that followed.

Kato broke off last year from a larger rebel group that is involved in peace talks with the government.