MANILA, July 6 (Xinhua) -- A total of 130 members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have surrendered to the Philippine military, the government said on Monday.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro accepted the formal surrender of the MILF followers last Saturday in the southern province of Lanao del Norte, the Philippine Department of Defense said in a press release.

Incessant combat operations conducted by the Philippine Army in Lanao del Norte led to the surrender of the rebels, said the defense chief.

The government will keep its open-door policy to resolve conflicts in Lanao del Norte and elsewhere in the Mindanao region although the military will "hunt down those who undertake criminal activities," he added.

The government troops have intensified their offensive against some rogue members of the 11,800-strong Muslim group, who attacked the Christian communities in the south last August after the government failed to sign a territory agreement with the MILF as scheduled.

The attacks prompted the government to suspend peace talks with the MILF and launch a massive assault on the rebels. The fighting has affected more than 600,000 people.

Government officials said that they expect the peace talks would resume this month with the rebel group.