DAY 8 | 1,000 structures burn as MNLF, troops trade shots in Zamboanga City

From InterAksyon (Sep 16): DAY 8 | 1,000 structures burn as MNLF, troops trade shots in Zamboanga City

On the eighth day of the crisis, armed men identified with the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) on Monday burned more structures as government forces pressed on their positions in at least two barangays in Zamboanga City.

The Crisis Management Council led by Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has estimated the number of razed structures at 1,000 or more.

On the other hand, the military appealed to media people covering inside the danger zones to refrain from reporting exact locations of government forces doing their assault against the rebels.

“We’re appealing to friends in the media to join us in safeguarding lives of our soldiers by refraining from posting their current locations,” Maj. Angelo Guzman, deputy of the Public Affairs Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said.

He said radio reports and television footages disclosing the positions of advancing government positions were aiding the rebels, enabling the latter to reposition their forces, especially snipers and mortars, against soldiers, policemen, and even civilian medical personnel.

At around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, heavy fighting occurred in Sta. Catalina, followed by rebels burning more structures.

The same situation followed shortly in Barangay Riohondo as more houses and buildings where rebels were holding positions went up in smoke.

Hostages

Guzman said the rebels were holding up to 183 hostages in different locations.

Citing data from the military, he said the bulk of the hostages were in Sta. Barbara: 20 captives were in the custody of Commander Habier Malik, Misuari’s ground commander; 87 under Commander Ener Misuari; 20 under Commander Usong Uggong; 20 under Commander Salip Idjal; and undetermined number under Commander Asamin Hussin.

In Sta. Catalina, Guzman said 36 captives were in the hands of Commander Tadsna Ismael.

“There were only seven hostages released safe. Fourteen escaped from their captors and two were rescued,” Guzman said.

He said the 62 fatalities that included government and MNLF forces are expected to increase as fighting continues to rage.

Guzman said 51 rebels were already killed and 48 either were captured or have surrendered.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said more than 70,000 displaced people were in evacuation centers.

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