MANILA, Philippines—Muslim rebels have changed tack, splitting into smaller groups and making military pursuit operations in Central Mindanao more difficult, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said Friday.

This, he said, was the reason the government has doubled the bounty for the capture of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commanders Bravo and Kato (from P5 million to P10 million each), and P5 million for Commander Pangalian.

The three are held responsible for attacks on villages in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte last month that left scores dead and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.

Speaking on Vice President Noli de Castro’s weekly radio program, “Para Sa Iyo, Bayan,” Teodoro admitted the ongoing military operation against the three MILF commanders and their followers had to be carefully planned to avoid affecting civilian communities.

“It makes it more difficult to comb the areas because they are moving in smaller groups, Teodoro said in Filipino.

He said the increased reward was aimed at speeding up their capture.

“It would have been easier if they were in bigger, conventional formation so we can target them with bombs. We can’t do that now, he said.

The guerrillas, he also noted, often mingled with civilians and used civilians as shields.

Teodoro also said he did not buy the idea the MILF leadership had nothing to do with the action of the three wanted commanders.

The MILF has refused to surrender them, he said.

Reacting to the increased bounty for the capture of Bravo and Kato, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said he doubted it would be effective.

“You know, in the eyes of the people here, Kato and Bravo are not criminals. They enjoy popular support. For the people here, they are heroes because they are fighting for the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people,” Iqbal told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.