MANILA, Philippines - Air Force attack planes pounded yesterday the position of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Guindulungan, Maguindanao, as fighting between government troops and guerrillas entered its fourth day, a military spokesman reported.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said SF 21 Marchetti planes conducted two bombing runs between 11 a.m. and 12 noon.

He said that scores of MILF rebels are believed dead because of the accuracy of the rockets fired from the Air Force planes.

Ponce said that while military aircraft staged attacks, ground forces continue to move deeper into the hideout of the MILF guerrillas after a rebel camp was overrun the other day.

He said this camp is being used by the MILF to manufacture improvised explosive devices.

“Yung nakuha natin na mga IED (improvised explosive device) dun sa na-overran na kampo ay marami so isa yun sa mga pinaghihinalaan natin na dun sila gumagawa... tapos bababa lang e, malapit lang five kilometres magpapaputok na sila ng IED sa mga detachments o sa mga nearby (areas),” he said.

At least 30 MILF rebels were killed while five soldiers and 20 guerrillas were wounded in the latest fighting.

Since August last year, troops have been conducting pursuit operations to get MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato in Maguindanao after he led his supporters in terrorizing civilian communities in North Cotabato.