From the Philippine Star (Oct 5): Deployment of Marines to Sultan Kudarat not meant for MILF

Marines deployed to Sultan Kudarat are not targeting the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a military official said today. Col. Alexander Balutan, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, said Marine troops deployed to the province is part of the Philippine government's renewed campaign against illegal logging and other lawless elements in the area. "We are not after the MILF. We are after lawless elements (involved in illegal logging). In fact, we have warrants of arrest for them," said Balutan. He made the announcement after the MILF issued a statement denouncing the massing up of soldiers in Palimbang town since Wednesday, a day after the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the secessionist group and the government in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia....

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=856323&publicationSubCategoryId=200