MILF sparks clashes as it expands territories in Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which signed a peace deal with the government in March 2014, continues to expand its territories in the South, sparking occasional clashes with patrolling government forces in the restive region.

Even in Sulu, locals were surprised to learn that there are MILF members in the province. The province is a known stronghold of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and has no known MILF presence or territories until now after the military said it collected dozens of weapons from the MILF members for "decommissioning."