Philippine gov't vows no spillover of conflict in restive south

The Philippine government assured Sunday that security forces have been doing all they can to prevent a spillover of clashes in southern Philippines amid an all- out offensive against lawless elements and terrorist group in the region.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told a state-run radio that the military has been taking into consideration the safety of the civilians.

"The government is doing what is right to stop the lawless forces and one of their considerations is to prevent the collateral damage to the people," he said.

The Philippines military chief of staff Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has ordered the field commanders to pursue both the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group.

He said he wanted to "significantly lessen" the bandits' ability to carry out violent attacks against civilians before his retirement in July.

"We can protect the civilian populace by isolating them from armed groups. We also need accurate information from the people themselves," he added.

The Philippines troops have killed 24 Abu Sayyaf members and two soldiers died in the clashes in Sulu, the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, last week. The Joint Task Group Sulu also received a report that Abu Sayyaf's leader Radulan Sahiron was wounded.

Gen. Catapang said in Maguindanao that field reports indicated that three aides of suspected terrorist Abdul Basit Usman were killed by the government troops.

The BIFF allegedly harbored Usman, who escaped a deadly police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, and Zulkifli bin Hr, alias Marwan, who was killed in the same operation.

The Mamasapano operation also led to the death of 44 police commandos. Endi