Dozens killed in clashes between police, Muslim rebels in Philippines

Six militants were killed and 11 wounded in the clashes, which raged for 12 hours in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, police said.

Members of both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with whom the government has signed a peace agreement, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), with whom it has not, were involved in the firefight, officials and rebel groups said.

Grisly footage purporting to be of the aftermath of the battle was circulated online, showing uniformed bodies strewn in a rice field.

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But the outbreak only strengthened the resolve of the peace panel to implement the “Bangsamoro Basic Law” — the bill, currently being heard by politicians, that seeks to implement the peace deal between the government and the MILF.

Hearings of the bill were suspended Monday following the violence.

“With better cooperation, we will be able to prevent these kinds of incidents,” she said.

CNN