Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Troops deployed in Zamboanga City mangrove areas to prevent MNLF fighters from escaping

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 24): Troops deployed in Zamboanga City mangrove areas to prevent MNLF fighters from escaping

To prevent the surviving Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters from using the coasts in their escape, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala on Tuesday said that military units are now deployed to keep watch on Zamboanga City's mangrove areas.

He made this statement after noting that some cornered MNLF fighters tried to elude pursuing government troopers by running in the locality's mangrove forests.

However, the AFP managed to "neutralize" the MNLF group before they could gain cover.

With this, Zagala said that military units in Zamboanga City are now also patrolling the mangrove areas to ensure that no MNLF pockets can take cover there and escape.

The AFP public affairs office chief earlier said that six hostages were rescued during military clearing operations.

Cordoning and clearing operations are still ongoing in Barangays Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina.

Zagala declined to comment on the exact size of the "constriction area" in Barangays Sta. Barbara and Catalina but said that units in the ground are resorting to "house-to-house" searches to ensure that no MNLF fighter will escape.

Earlier, the AFP reported rescuing 174 hostages out of the 183 taken captive by the MNLF last Sept. 9.

Meanwhile, troopers from the 1st Infantry Division's 44th Infantry Battalion and PNP-Special Action Force have successfully captured eight MNLF fighters during clearing operations in Barangay Sta. Barbara, Zamboanga City Tuesday morning.

Capt. Jefferson Somera, 1st Infantry Division spokesperson, said that the encounter with government forces and the MNLF fighters took place around 8 a.m.

Units involved in the clearing operation are "A" Company and Scout Platoon of the 44th Infantry Battalion and the PNP-SAF.

Somera said that government units were conducting clearing operations in the above-mentioned area when they encountered an undetermined number of MNLF fighters of which they captured eight.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=569132

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