Philippine Troops Retake 2 Villagers From Muslim Rebels

August 11, 2008 6:33 a.m. EST

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Fierce fighting between Philippine security forces and Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines enters its second day Monday. Government troops claim to have retaken two villages out of 15 occupied since last month by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in north Cotabato south of the region.

The fighting forced an estimated 130,000 villagers to flee the conflict to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

Since the military launched the offensive against the MILF on Sunday, at least 12 rebels have been killed while a government soldier was lost in the gun battle. Government troops, backed by artillery fire, took control of the two villages Monday occupied by an estimated 800 rebel guerillas.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna told reporters, "The operation is going on, it has been going on for more than 24 hours already and as of now we have already, out of 15 barangays (villages) to be cleared, two villages were already cleared. Our troops are already inside, and there are no more MILF forces in the villages of Upper Lapak and Lagindingan in Midsayap. The 13 others are being cleared."

"In the process of our police military law enforcement operations, we had 11 encounters since yesterday (Sunday) and we have several casualties. We have 12 wounded and one killed in action and on the other side, undetermined. I would presume that there are more (casualties on the MILF side)," Luna said.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council has set up 43 temporary shelters for the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the ongoing military campaign in five town in southern Philippines.

Luna said the rebels have put up stiff resistance, some of the fighting is land-based and some in marshland.