December 29, 2000, BBC News, Philippine rebels granted amnesty,

December 29, 2000, BBC News, Philippine rebels granted amnesty,

The Philippine Government has granted amnesty and money to some 800 rebels from the country's main Muslim guerrilla group who have agreed to surrender.

The rebels - from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) - exchanged weapons for a pardon and $290 each in a ceremony in Cagayan de Oro, a city in the Muslim south of the country.

Estrada called on remaining rebels to follow suit

The amnesty comes as the government pledged to step up their fight against the more extremist Abu Sayyaf rebels.

President Joseph Estrada attended the amnesty ceremony, where he pledged livelihood projects and 2,000 scholarships for the children of pardoned guerrillas.

But Milf spokesman Eid Kabalua said the ceremony included no real Milf rebels.

"These are local people handing in weapons," he told local television. "True Milf would rather die than surrender."

In October, Milf rejected an offer for amnesty from the government, describing it as a "diversionary tactic".

Estrada's call

Mr Estrada said the rebels' surrender "further signals the weakening of the secessionist force" in the south.

"[This] will bring forth a fresh start to a better future not only for [pardoned rebels] and their families, but also for our people who have gone tired of conflict and violence," he said in his speech.

The army captured Milf headquarters earlier this year

He called on the remaining members of Milf to follow their comrades' lead.

Milf has waged a 22-year separatist guerrilla campaign to establish an independent Islamic state in Mindanao and other islands in the south, home to the country's five million Muslims.

It is the largest Muslim rebel group, and earlier this year had 15,000 members. That figure has since dropped after a massive military assault on Milf camps.

Another Muslim group, the Abu Sayyaf, has kidnapped dozens of hostages, including a group of 21 foreigners held for months earlier this year on Jolo island.

Defence Secretary Orlando Mercado said on Friday that the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf launched in September would be intensified following the murder of a Roman Catholic priest.

"With this murder, we need a more aggressive response," he said. "We'll hunt them down."