Moro guerrillas attack in Mindanao

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Rejectionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas are continuing attacks in Mindanao in the Philippines.

The MILF assaults are occurring despite breakthroughs in the Mindanao peace process between the Filipino authorities in Manila and the mainstream MILF leadership, which were brokered by Malaysia.

Mindanao North Cotabato province police chief, Superintendent Leo Ajero said heavily armed members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters raided a village in of Kabacan, North Cotabato, forcing more than 1,500 citizens to flee Monday.

BIFF is heavily opposed to the recent rapprochement between the Filipino government and the MILF, the Gulf Today newspaper reported on Thursday.

Earlier this month, the government and the MILF signed a framework "road map" agreement designed eventually to lead to a treaty to end the decades-long war and violence in Mindanao, a stance that BIFF has rejected.

The foundation of the agreement is the establishment of a new Bangsamoro political entity to be carved out of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, one of the country's poorest regions, which contains the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu.