AFP going for the kill

From the Manila Times (Sep 15): AFP going for the kill

GOVERNMENT troops were advancing Sunday on the remaining Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters holed up in parts of Zamboanga City in a determined move to end the weeklong standoff.

“I cannot give a timeframe, but what I tell you as soon as possible we will finish, we’ll do it,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said on Sunday.

“We have continuous operations [and] we’re gaining ground. We’re pushing forward. There are lots of developments already,” Zagala said.

He said troops have taken some of the areas held by the rebels but refused to give the details, saying he did not want to compromise ongoing operations.

Zagala said the 180 to 200 MNLF fighters that swarmed the coastal villages of Zamboanga were down to a little over a hundred.

“Almost 51 enemies were killed. A lot have also been captured,” he said.

“Our objective here is to finish this the soonest possible time,” Zagala stressed.

As of last Saturday, six government troops had been killed and 46 were wounded. On the MNLF side, 19 were captured besides those killed.

Zagala said they would maintain their calibrated response to ensure the safety of the hostages the MNLF were using as human shields.

Zagala said government forces were advancing on rebel positions.

http://www.manilatimes.net/afp-going-for-the-kill/40228/