MNLF SEPARATISTS ATTACK ZAMBOANGA CITY

20 Civilians Hostaged

MNLF rebels hold civilians hostage in Zamboanga City

Posted at 09/09/2013 7:56 AM | Updated as of 09/09/2013 10:24 AM

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) – The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels held some civilians hostage in Zamboanga City after a clash with government troops erupted Sunday evening.

Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco said at least 20 civilians are now being used as “human shields” by the MNLF rebels who are trying to take over the city.

Climaco said she received a report that a soldier died but she has no figures on the number of injured. She said some 400 MNLF rebels are involved in the ongoing skirmishes.

A separate report by ABS-CBN News Zamboanga’s Jewel Reyes, meanwhile, said 2 civilians died and 4 were wounded after rebels attacked jeepney passengers in Barangay Talon-Talon.

“Their main quest is to declare independence in Zamboanga. This is a non-ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) territory. We are calling a crisis committee in a while. There are estimated 20 hostages in Barangay Sta. Catalina being used as human shields,” Climaco told ANC.

“The police and military in the city’s stand is, if ever there are men in uniform, they have to apprehended because we only recognize one Philippine Army and Philippine National Police.”

Some 300 people people were also forced to flee their homes at around 11 p.m. Sunday after MNLF forces clashed with government troops in Barangays Mariki, Rio Hondo, Sta. Barbara, Talon-Talon and Sta. Catalina.

Residents said the MNLF troops began arriving in the area Sunday morning and started building up their forces later in the evening.

Barangay Rio Hondo councilman Jinnul Malik said some 40 unarmed MNLF troops in civilian clothes arrived in the area as early as 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Superintendent Juanito Vaño, Zamboanga Peninsula Police director, said 11 MNLF rebels are now under police and military custody. A gunfight was still taking place, as of posting time.

Climaco said the MNLF rebels were supposed to go to Basilan but did not pursue its trip due to a naval blockade.

Due to the gunfight, Climaco announced the suspension of classes at all levels in the city. Isabela City, Basilan Mayor Cherilyn Santos Akbar also announced suspension of class and work in the city.

Business operations were also affected.

Misuari ‘visit’

In an interview with dzMM, MNLF spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanilla confirmed that the rebels involved in the crisis were members of the separatist group.

Fontanilla said the rebels who arrived in Zamboanga City were supposed to serve as “advance forces” who will escort MNLF chairman Nur Misuari during his visit.

“Ang plano sana is for the chairman to peacefully go around Mindanao to consult the people tungkol sa declaration of independence without resulting to any violence,” Fontanilla told dzMM.

“Ang pinaaabot sa pamahalaan na ito ay mapayapang pamamaran patungo sa deklarasyon ng independence at ito ay gagabayan ng United Nations.”

Misuari recently declared independence in for Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and even North Borneo or Sabah, which is controlled by Malaysia. He called it “peaceful revolution.”

The declaration of independence came amid the MNLF’s condemnation of the peace pact between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The MNLF argues that the government must not abandon the tripartite review of its 1996 final peace agreement just to accommodate the Framework Agreement for Bangsamoro (FAB) of the MILF.

“It would be very prudent for the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Cooperation) to intervene on this matter. Baka ubos ang Mindanao natin. Kung walang mabibilis ang kamay sa trigger, ito ay ‘di mangyayari. Eh baka mayroong mga mabibilis sa trigger, kasi pwede namang i-hold natin, o ipakita ang white flag at mag-clarify bago magkaroon ng engkwentro. Baka lahat ng forces mainit,” Fontanilla said.

“Sana mayroong third party na pumasok dito at mayroon naman tayong ceasefire mechanism. I hope this would be availed before anything else [happens.] Hindi kami nananakot, pero kapag nagsimula ito, ewan ko po, mas grabe ito sa 1972. This will be more than that of 1972.”

Fontanilla reiterated that MNLF troops will continue to hold their ground and roam the city.

“Sana ito’y mapagtuunan ng pansin para huwag lumaki ang problema,” he said.

Climaco, for her part, said the city is not buying the MNLF’s claim that the troops were only in the city to peacefully declare independence.

“I think the main goal is to simply stage, not to take over the city hall; for them to hoist their flag and declare their independence from the national government in Zamboanga City because of its strategic location,” Climaco said.

“That is what they allegedly say – that they are here to ‘peacefully express independence’ but it is logically unacceptable because they will use arms. We are trying to prevent civilians from being involved.”

Source: Manny Piñol