Rebels deploy forces to stop violence

Manila : The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has fielded its forces in certain municipalities in Maguindanao supposedly as a measure to check the increasing violence there.

The MILF, in a report published on its Luwaran website, said it had deployed its "Ittihad" or "Unity," Task Force amid increasing violence in the municipalities of Mamasapano, Sharif Aguak, Ampatuan.

A virtual vacuum in authority has existed in the three towns in the aftermath of martial law declared by the Manila-based government in December following the November 23 killing of 57 people in Maguindanao. The massacre had been perpetrated by Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr, of Datu Unsay town with the help of scores of government militiamen. Martial law was eventually lifted but disorder continued to reign where the government had no military presence. The report said crimes like cattle-rustling, robbery and looting had been occurring on an almost daily basis.