15,000 people displaced by clashes in Central Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine military's all-out offensive against Muslim militants in Central Mindanao has displaced at least 3,000 families or 15,000 people, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said this was a report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has launched operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF), a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country.

He said the government has been doing everything to provide the necessary assistance to the displaced population.

Central Mindanao is the stronghold of the MILF. The government considers the BIFF as a lawless group, which was allegedly involved in the tragic death of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano town, southern province of Maguindanao last month.