More than 40 Philippine police killed in clash with Muslim rebels

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) armed group has said the Philippine government violated a ceasefire agreement when police special forces carried out a pre-dawn operation in rebel territory, resulting in the deaths of over 40 police commandos. Local reports said police were going after Basit Usman, commander of the MILF splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and Malaysian bombing suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, who was believed to be hiding in the area. The BIFF group has continued to carry out attacks and kidnappings in the area. It also continues to fight for an independent Muslim state in southern Philippines.

This is going to be a big problem…it’s the first encounter between the MILF and (government forces) this year. Hopefully, this will be the last.

MILF’s chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal

President Benigno Aquino ordered an investigation into the incident, a major test of the accord intended to end a 40-year insurgency that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The MILF had agreed to end its revolt in the mainly Catholic nation in exchange for a proposed law now being debated in parliament that would give minority Muslims self-rule in several southern provinces. But Sunday’s bloodbath highlighted “security challenges.” The firefight was only the second since the ceasefire. Two soldiers and 18 Muslim gunmen were killed in a clash on the southern island of Basilan in April 2014.

Asia-Pacific