Talk » On Sunday, the Philippine military sai

MANILA http://www.airmaxchinaoutlet.com/ , March 12 (Xinhua) -- The all-out war launched by the Philippine military against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) would not affect the Mindanao peace process, according to a top Philippine government official.


The massive military offensive that started Feb. 11 against the renegade Muslim rebels in the province of Maguindanao in Mindanao, some 1,800 km south of Manila air max 270 outlet , has already resulted in the death of 73 BIFF fighters and four government troopers.


Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said the government is confident that the military action against the BIFF would not derail the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the mainstream rebel group that has signed a peace accord with the government last year.


The BIFF is led by former MILF commander Umbra Kato who decided to split from the MILF after the latter signed a peace pact with the government. The BIFF wants to establish an Islamic state in Mindanao while the MILF opted to have a sub-state called Bangsamoro with semi-sovereign powers but still within the ambit of the Philippine government.


According to Deles, the military has assured them that the offensive against the BIFF is "very targeted" and would not include MILF-controlled areas.


The military operation against the BIFF is centered on the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao where Basit Usman, the Filipino deputy of Malaysian-born terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir air max 98 outlet , also known as "Marwan," is believed to be hiding.


Marwan, an expert on bomb making, was killed in the bloody encounter on Jan. 25 in Mamasapano air max 95 outlet , Maguindanao, but Usman was able to escape.


The encounter also resulted in the death of 44 members of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), 18 rebels and five civilians.


On Sunday, the Philippine military said that among the killed BIFF guerrillas was a foreign-looking combatant whose identity has not been established.


Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. air max 97 outlet , chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said they have in