MNLF forces 'consolidating' in Jolo — military

From GMA News (Sep 11): MNLF forces 'consolidating' in Jolo — military

Some 300 members and symphatizers of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are reportedly “consolidating” in the hinterlands of Jolo, Sulu, as their counterparts in Zamboanga City continued to engage government security forces in a standoff Tuesday.

“Nandun sila sa hinterlands nagko-consolidate pero hindi sila makababa ng main road kasi nga 'yung mga checkpoint namin in-intensify namin,” said Capt. Michael Mortel, civil military operations officer of the Jolo-based 2nd Marine Brigade.

“We're making sure that they won't mobilize to the main road,” he added.

Mortel said military batallions have already been ordered to be watchful against MNLF members massing up in the municipalities. He said the instruction was to disarm MNLF members who would troop to the town proper.

“Ang instruction dito, kapag bumaba sila [MNLF] sa main road (ay) kukunin din 'yung mga baril nila, which is ayaw din nila mangyari. Ngayon kung papalag sila, kung puputok sila, they will face the full force of the law,” said Mortel.

There have been no skirmishes reported in Jolo as of posting time.

Mortel said they received information that MNLF members in Jolo were planning to go to town to raise their flag at the city hall, similar to what the MNLF members in Zamboanga City also intended to do on Monday morning.

The MNLF fighters have been holding hostage over a hundred civilians in Zamboanga City, and local government officials were still trying to secure the freedom of the hostages as of Tuesday night.

Four people have already been killed in Zamboanga City following sporadic clashes between the MNLF fighters and government forces.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/325876/news/regions/mnlf-forces-consolidating-in-jolo-military