MNLF in ARMM remains intact, no movement -- PNP

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 9): MNLF in ARMM remains intact, no movement -- PNP

Members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in five provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) remain in their respective camps and communities amid the attack of the Misuari faction in Zamboanga City early Monday.

Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, ARMM police director, said police authorities have been closely monitoring the situation in MNLF communities in the region and found no reason for local folks to be apprehensive of any undue hostile development.

Delos Reyes said he had been providing ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman with an hourly update on the security situation in the five ARMM provinces, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Lawyer Anwar Malang, ARMM local government secretary, said the autonomous region has been peaceful and calm since a handful of Nur Misuari's followers staged violent attacks in several coastal villages of Zamboanga City before dawn Monday.

Local executives in the ARMM provinces have been initiating low key and back channel dialogues with MNLF officials in their respective towns to preserve the peace.

Malang in a statement said the whole of ARMM is relatively peaceful.

The region has been placed on alert status, according to Executive Sec. Laisa Alamia.

"Gov. Hataman has advised authorities and local government units in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to heighten security in their respective areas and help guard against the movement of suspicious groups or saboteurs," Alamia said.

"We also condemn in the strongest possible terms this act of violence and the use of some people as human shields, while we continue to pray for the safety of civilians now suffering from this unfortunate incident," she said in a statement.

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