Fighting Intensifies in Philippines

Fighting between the Filipino army and MILF has intensified over the past several days. The Filipino army reports that they have killed up to 110 MILF terrorists. The army also has captured 15 terrorist strong holds. Reuters

The military said about 60 civilians were killed in attacks by renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters on towns in the south and in mortar shelling. In addition, 110 rebels and 17 soldiers died, officers said.

Leila de Lima, head of the Commission on Human Rights, told reporters at least 20 civilians were killed in one town on Sunday as the military pursued guerrillas responsible for the attacks.

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Brigadier-General Jorge Segovia, chief of the army's operations centre, blamed rogue members of the MILF for the deaths of the civilians, saying troops have been avoiding attacks on local communities.

"We're not shelling or dropping bombs on villages," Segovia told Reuters, saying mortar fire from the rebels was erratic and falling on civilian areas. "It is these rogue MILF members who are behind burning of houses and murder of innocent civilians."

Segovia said troops had seized about 15 rebel strongholds in North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao provinces after a week of combat operations to punish rogue Muslim rebel groups.