November 14, 2003

  The country was horrified when Moslem rebels in the south hacked to death a mother and her six children during an attack on a village. The army took off after the attackers and killed and captured some of them. The MILF later denied any responsibility, but the MILF has been gradually losing control of many units it formerly had some control over. This was partially caused by the army's capture of the MILFs major camps last year, and the dispersal of large MILF units. Meanwhile, in the north, NPA rebels sought out and killed an outspoken critic and mutilated the body.