AFP: Commander Malik's IDs found in 1 of slain MNLF fighters' bodies

From GMA News (Sep 29): AFP: Commander Malik's IDs found in 1 of slain MNLF fighters' bodies

 

Roxas, Gazmin at Zambo City 'ground zero' after siege. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin enter "ground zero" in Zamboanga City and declare end of the nearly three-week siege of the city. Chino Gaston

Identification cards belonging to an aide of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari have been found on one of the slain followers of Misuari in Zamboanga City, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Sunday morning.

But AFP public affairs office deputy head Maj. Angelo Guzman said they are still double-checking if the body where the IDs were found is indeed that of MNLF Commander Habier Malik.

But still, Guzman said there were "similarities" between the body and their previous records of Malik, one of the commanders of MNLF forces involved in Zamboanga City clashes for 20 days.

"IDs belonging to Malik found in one killed Nur fighter in Zamboanga (but) is not a guarantee that he is Malik, though they have similarities," Guzman said in a post on his Twitter account.

But AFP PAO head Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said Malik is just one of the five commanders of the MNLF forces that had briefly taken control over parts of the city.

"We have to consider how many forces, there are five commanders, and Malik is just one of them," Zagala said in an interview on dzBB radio.

As for Misuari, Zagala said their information indicates he is still in Sulu, but declined to elaborate.

He also said they are monitoring developments on Misuari.

Misuari's followers had engaged government forces in armed confrontations starting Sept. 9, when they took civilians as hostages.

But government forces managed to retake the MNLF-controlled areas. On Saturday, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the crisis is over, but clearing operations continue to ensure no more MNLF rebel would be left roaming the city.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/328623/news/nation/afp-commander-malik-s-ids-found-in-1-of-slain-mnlf-fighters-bodies