ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Wednesday ordered an all-out offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), whose violent attacks in the past days had displaced more than 20,000 civilians in the central part of Mindanao in southern Philippines.

The military chief gave the order to finish off the rogue group of former Muslim separatist rebels in an effort to protect local communities against armed attacks by the BIFF.