MANILA: Philippine troops will continue offensives against Muslim rebels in the south but commanders will make “tactical adjustments” in deference to the holy month of Ramadan, an official said yesterday.
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 in 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 Lt. Col. 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.
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.
