Truemors
A renegade faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked anew villages in the province of Lanao del Norte, in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Associated Press through the Philippine Star reported at least 28 civilians have been killed and 44,000 displaced in the latest guerilla rampage.
A senior army general said additional security forces were deployed to prevent a repeat of Monday's carnage, when about 200-500 Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas cut off a main highway and raided up to five coastal towns in the province.The rebels burned houses and shot or hacked to death civilians and took others captive.
Brig. Gen. Antonio Supnet, head of an army brigade that flushed out the rebels, said eight residents from Kolambugan town were unaccounted for and presumed to have been snatched by the retreating guerrillas."We are treating them as criminals and we will go after them anywhere," he told The Associated Press.
Kolambugan Mayor Beltran Lumaque said residents "were killed as they were sighted."
The national disaster agency said about 44,000 people were displaced, most of them taking refuge in 19 evacuation centers in nearby Iligan and Ozamiz cities.Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said Monday's attack was carried out by a key commander, Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Bravo, without the knowledge of the group's leadership. He said that Bravo will "face the consequence of his action" but did not elaborate.
Fighting escalated early August as the Philippines' supreme court blocked the passage of a memorandum of agreement between the government and MILF expanding the territory of the Bangsamoro.
Security tightened in Mindanao urban centers, Metro
Chief Superintendent, Nicanor Bartolome, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that security has been tightened and police personnel have been put on red alert in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile...
Captain Carlo Ferrer, spokesman of the Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) said the military has also placed its Metro Manila units on the highest alert.
Security in urban centers in Mindanao have also been beefed up amidst government-MILF confrontations.
In Iligan City, close to 300 residents and community leaders have armed themselves in defense against possible MILF attacks. Iligan is a highly-urbanized city in the province of Lanao del Norte.
Estrada pushes for all-out offensive
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada has called for an all-out offensive against the rebels.
“Enough with the talking; the people in Mindanao are still living in poverty and fear,” Estrada spoke through Mindanao-wide radio broadcast on Bombo Radyo.
During his term, Estrada mounted offensives which overran the MILF stronghold, Camp Abubakar.
He was ousted in 2001 amidst corruption allegations. Put on house arrest, Estrada walked free in 2007 after being pardoned by incumbent president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
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