Military

DATE=1/13/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES FIGHTING (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-298311

BYLINE=KATHERINE MARIA

DATELINE=

HONG KONG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Philippine military is continuing to chase rebel groups and a criminal gang in the southern islands and says it has discovered a camp used for training and planning attacks. They estimate more than 20 rebels have died in skirmishes over the past few days. V-O-A's Katherine Maria reports.

TEXT: The Philippine military says that on Monday it continued assaults on area occupied by the Muslim separatists and a kidnapping gang. Heavy fighting took place in areas occupied by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the southern province of Sultan Kudarat. Troops estimate that more than 20 M-I-L-F rebels have died in fighting since Saturday.

Ros Manlangit, a military spokesman, says the operation is not targeting the M-I-L-F, and instead is focusing on a criminal organization known as the Pentagon gang. The gang is infamous for kidnappings and other crimes.

/// ACT MANLANGIT ///

Our forces are in operation against this kidnapper and some groups, Pentagon. We are not going against the M-I-L-F directly, because we have an agreement with them. We are going against kidnapper groups.

/// END ACT ///

Military air and ground assaults began late last week. Philippine troops say they occupied mountainous areas Saturday after driving away Pentagon gang members and some M-I-L-F rebels.

The fighting has forced more than two hundred families from their homes.

Philippine forces also claim to have uncovered a training camp for the rebels, as well as instructions for making explosives.

An M-I-L-F spokesman, however, says the military reports are incorrect. Eid Kabalu says three M-I-L-F fighters were wounded in clashes with the military but there were no deaths. He also denies the existence of a training camp.

/// KABALU ACT ///

They are trying to make it appear that this is a camp. No, this is a community. It's a community where civilians are living but some of the residents there are M-I-L-F supporters and sympathizers. It so happened that the skirmishes took place in the area.

/// END ACT ///

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has been fighting for decades for a separate Islamic state in the southern Philippines. Clashes flair up sporadically between the Philippine military and the rebels despite a truce in 1997, and a ceasefire in 2001. Government and rebel negotiators are hoping to resume peace talks later this year. (Signed)

NEB/HK/KM/KPD