ILIGAN CITY (Philippines), May 22: Ninety-seven Muslim separatists surrendered on Thursday amid a large-scale military offensive against the guerillas in the southern Philippines, officials said.

The rebels were led by six commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest rebel group fighting for an independent Muslim state in the south.

The MILF has been under heavy attack by the military since Saturday and troops have reportedly killed at least 118 guerillas in air strikes and ground operations.

The rebels also turned over 82 firearms to the military, including a 60-calibre machinegun and a 30-calibre light machinegun.

They were presented to Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes by Maj-Gen Roy Kyamco, chief of the armed forces’ southern command.

“They surrendered because their leaders abandoned them at the height of the military offensives,” he said.

Army Maj-Gen Cristolito Balaoing said a total of two million pesos would be awarded to the former MILF fighters as emergency and living assistance.

The MILF has been waging a secessionist struggle since 1978.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the strikes on MILF strongholds in a bid to flush out fighters allegedly linked with the rebel group.—dpa