THE ongoing military offensive against three wanted Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders and their men, though slowed down by the holy month of Ramadan, has already affected more than half a million people in at least 356 barangay in Mindanao.

Glen Rabonza, executive director of the National Disaster Coordinating Council and administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, said the conflict which was sparked by the attacks of Commanders Umbra Kato, Bravo and Pangalian against several towns in North Cotabato, Sarangani and Lanao del Norte, has displaced a total of at least 107,625 families or 512, 539 persons in 40 towns in Central and Western Mindanao, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Rabonza said the government responded to the man-made calamity by releasing a total of more than P16 million worth of relief goods as of last week.

He said the number of evacuees is slightly lower than those forced out of their homes by the government’s all- out war against the MILF in 2000, but higher than the number of evacuees from the Buliok campaign in Maguindanao in 2003.

An estimated 31, 000 families abandoned their homes when the government assaulted Buliok complex, where the former main camp of the MILF was located. The complex also housed the residence of Salamat Hashim, the former chairman and founder of the MILF.

On the other hand, a total of 140,000 families were forced to leave their homes in 2000 after the government declared the all-out war against the MILF and assaulted all their camps in Mindanao.

Roy Bautista of the Red Cross said the number of the present evacuees could still increase with the possible return of hostilities between the rebels and soldiers after Ramadan, a fear that was confirmed by the recent buildup of forces by the National Police in the South.

Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla, deputy chief of the National Police community relations directorate, said regional mobile groups from Regions 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13 have been sent to Region 12 to assist in defense and security operations in the area.

He said explosive and ordnance demolition teams have also been sent to the Zamboanga provinces, Davao provinces and the cities of Iligan, Cotabato and Cagayan de Oro, in anticipation of possible bombing attempts by the rebels.

Rongavilla said the police are supporting their efforts with intensified intelligence and counter-intelligence work and a legal offensive against the MILF.

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THE ongoing military offensive against three wanted Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders and their men, though slowed down by the holy month of Ramadan, has already affected more than half a million people in at least 356 barangay in Mindanao.

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