MANILA, Philippines -- Close to a month of fighting between government forces and a breakaway Moro rebel group has left more than 69 people dead, the Army said Tuesday.
Colonel Prudencio Asto, spok
esmen of the Army’s 6rth Infantry Dvision, said most of the fatalities were fighters of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
He added that fighting had tapered off since Monday when the military captured a number of BIFF camps.
"It's generally peaceful here because we were able to capture several of their camps. They have nowhere to go," Asto said.
Asto said five soldiers and a policeman have died in the fighting while "scores" of BIFF members were injured.
He said soldiers manning checkpoints have been ordered to be on the lookout for wounded BIFF fighters.
The clashes, which have centered mostly on Maguindanao province, began on August 5 when the rebels attacked military installations.
The BIFF said the attacks were in retaliation for the deaths of two members, which they blamed on the military.
An earlier report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the fighting had affected 7,800 families. Twenty-two houses also burned down.
He added that fighting had tapered off since Monday when the military captured a number of BIFF camps.
"It's generally peaceful here because we were able to capture several of their camps. They have nowhere to go," Asto said.
Asto said five soldiers and a policeman have died in the fighting while "scores" of BIFF members were injured.
He said soldiers manning checkpoints have been ordered to be on the lookout for wounded BIFF fighters.
The clashes, which have centered mostly on Maguindanao province, began on August 5 when the rebels attacked military installations.
The BIFF said the attacks were in retaliation for the deaths of two members, which they blamed on the military.
An earlier report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the fighting had affected 7,800 families. Twenty-two houses also burned down.
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