(UPDATE) 4 killed in Maguindanao clash

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - Government forces killed at least four members of Muslim rebels yesterday as they intensified the all-out-offensive in Maguindanao, the military said today.

Lt. Col Willy Manalang, commander of Marine Battalion Landing Team-8, said that his men were figured out in a 15-minute fierce fighting during an operation against elements of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in remote village of Shariff Saydona town around 10:00 p.m.on Saturday.

He said the fighting erupted after a small size patrol composed of the 63rd Force Recon Company led by Cpt. Bernardo and the Special Operations Platoon 8 were dispatched to track down 20-man group of BIFF.

Manalang said some of the fatalities on the enemy side were clad on Special Action Force uniform.

"I believe that this bandit is one of those who butchered the members of police last month in Mamasapano. Despite of their crimes, we will turn them over to the community leaders to be given decent Islamic burial," he said.

Marine troopers also clashed with another band of 30 BIFF militants around 7:15 a.m. Sunday about one kilometer from the encounter site last night where four rebels were killed.

Since Feb. 25 after the military ordered for an all-out- offensive against the BIFF, four camps of the rebels were already overrun by soldiers while at least 20 of them were killed.

The ongoing conflicts displaced over 75,000 people.