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Muslim rebels agree to leave Philippine villages
The Philippines called on Muslim rebels to rein in their members on Friday after some rebels refused to heed government orders to leave Catholic farmlands in the south.
- Agencies
- Published: 13:17 August 8, 2008
Manila: The Philippines called on Muslim rebels to rein in their members on Friday after some rebels refused to heed government orders to leave Catholic farmlands in the south.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to pull out from villages in North Cotabato province after the government gave them a 24-hour deadline on Thursday and warned they faced a military offensive if they did not move.
Around 70 out of an estimated 800 rebels have already left and more are going but an undetermined number are refusing to leave, officials say.
"We are presently dealing with a recalcitrant group of MILF which appeared to be disregarding the call of their leaders to vacate certain areas in North Cotabato," said Lieutenant-Colonel Ernesto Torres, a military spokesman.
"We will apply proportionate and justifiable force, whenever necessary, to ensure that laws are upheld and peace is restored in the province."
The government said on Thursday it would take action against what it said was an MILF attack on nine villages in North Cotabato last month.
The country's interior secretary said rebels had torched houses, looted farms and caused more than 6,500 people to abandon their homes and farms, forcing hundreds of farmers in nearby Catholic areas to arm themselves.
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