Cotabato City, Philippines - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday vowed no let-up in the military offensive against Muslim rebels who seized villages and attacked towns in a strife-torn southern region of Mindanao.

Arroyo visited an army camp near Cotabato City Saturday and exhorted soldiers to continue operations against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels who launched attacks in the nearby provinces in August.

"I count on you soldiers to isolate the lawless Moro rebels," she said in a short speech after giving medals and commendations to soldiers involved in the offensive.

"The government and Filipino people appreciate and recognize your sacrifices in pursuit of justice for the victims of lawless MILF rebels," she added.

Arroyo said she was still determined to find peaceful solution to the Muslim insurgency in Mindanao despite the ongoing operations against selected MILF rebels.

The MILF rebels launched the attacks in August after the Supreme Court blocked a territory deal between the government and guerrilla peace negotiators that would have expanded the existing autonomous Muslim region in Mindanao.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the territory deal known as the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.

More than 200 people have been killed and more than 500,000 displaced in subsequent clashes between government troops and MILF rebels. (dpa)