Zambo fighting continues

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 20): Zambo fighting continues

MNLF Sniper Kills Military Official; Villages Set On Fire

A military official was killed by a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) sniper while Barangays Rio Hondo and Sta. Barbara were set on fire as government forces launched yesterday mopping  -up operations in areas retaken from the Muslim guerrillas.

On the 11th day of the Zamboanga crisis, clashes, burning of houses, mortar shelling, and sporadic fighting in Barangays Sta. Catalina, Lustre, and Sta. Barbara between government troops and the MNLF continued.

Fire also razed large portions of Barangay Sta. Catalina and Kasanyangan that prompted government troops to go slow in the conduct of their sweeping operations.

The death of the army first lieutenant brought to 12 the total number of security forces killed since the armed conflict erupted on September 9. A total of 108 soldiers were also wounded.

The latest fatality count on MNLF-Misuari faction is 86, with 108 others either captured or surrendered.

Three cops were also in the list of the fatality along with seven civilians. A total of 12 cops were also wounded, along with 67 civilians.

60 Hardcore MNLF Men Still In Zambo

The fighting erupted as security forces enter what officials described as the critical stage of the conflict – the close-quarter battle to retake the remaining three to six hectares land area where some 60 hardcore MNLF men are standing their ground.

But Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas, deputy chief for Operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the number of estimated remaining rebels further declined with the surrender of 15 more rebels yesterday morning. The surrender brought to 108 the number of MNLF fighters that have surrendered or captured by the military and police.

With the current situation, local residents are still being barred from entering their homes previously occupied by rebels loyal MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari, explaining that it is still not safe for them to return.

“The initial agreement is that no one will be allowed to return until the armed confrontation is over. There are still pockets of resistance and armed confrontation happening so it is still dangerous for them to return,” Rojas, who has been in Zamboanga City since Day 1, told the Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.

“Our constriction operations have been very effective. This has been forcing them to surrender, they really have no choice but to surrender if they still want to live,” said Rojas.

Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, military spokesman, said the constriction operations will continue in the remaining 30 percent of the areas being occupied by MNLF men that include Habier Malik, Misuari’s most trusted aide.

“We believe that he is still here (Zamboanga City),” said Tutaan, noting that there is no indication that he was able to escape.

As for Misuari, Tutaan said they believe that he is still in Sulu.

He said the remaining rebel forces are now trapped in a coastal area in Zamboanga City and are now the subject of the clearing operations.

20 Hostages Still Held

“They have already splintered into small groups,” said Tutaan, adding that the Moro rebels are still holding some 20 hostages.

The Philippine Navy has been conducting naval blockade in the waters off Zamboanga City to ensure that no MNLF fighter would neither escape nor reinforce their comrades trapped in the coastline of the City.

Eleven motor bancas with more than 200 people on board were intercepted at 7 p.m. Wednesday by military personnel conducting naval blockade off the waters near the coastline of Barangay Mampang. But Navy Lt. Junior Grade Leslie Campos said they turned out to be residents of Barangay Tictabon, situated at Tictauan Island, who fled from Arena Blanco as a result of the firefight of government forces against the MNLF Misuari faction.

Rojas said part of the clearing operations in the 70 percent of the areas retaken from the MNLF by security forces is the sending of police and military forces in every abandoned alley and houses.

The official said the house-to-house search is also aimed at checking if there are remaining MNLF fighters hiding in abandoned houses.

Also part of the search is the burial sites of slain rebels, what with the stories of some of the hostages that they were ordered to bury the slain MNLF fighters.

The government is embarking in an all-out legal offensive against all those responsible in the attack that so far left at least 107 people dead and displacement of more than 100,000 civilians.

“There have already been discussions of the specific charges that will be filed, and what is certain at this point is that cases of rebellion and violation of Republic Act 9851 are among the cases that will be filed,” said Rojas in a phone interview.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas said specific charges like murder, arson and illegal possession of firearms will be inclusive in the case of rebellion.

Earlier, authorities said Misuari-identified Moro rebels set on fire residential areas in at least five barangays they previously occupied.

93 MNLF Fighters In Custody

So far, at least 93 MNLF fighters identified with Misuari are in government custody after they were either captured or surrendered to the police and the military.

“All of them will undergo the same process of inquest proceedings,” said Roxas.
The latest to be arrested was Jarmaida A Wahid, 27, of Jolo, Sulu, and temporarily staying at Sta. Catalina since June this year.

Wahid was arrested by the authorities in Barangay San Roque after authorities received reports that she is an MNLF member. She yielded an MNLF identification card issued by the Sulu Sultanate and a cell phone.

Rojas said all of those who have something to do with the Zamboaga City attack will be included in the charge sheet, including Misuari and Malik.

But the DILG chief said part of the inquest process is the identification of the hierarchy of the attacking Moro rebels.

“The statements are being obtained from the civilian hostages who were either freed or were able to escape, the invaders themselves who were either captured or surrendered and other persons,” said Roxas.

70 MNLF Men Subjected To Inquest Proceedings

So far, Rojas said a total of 70 arrested MNLF fighters identified with Misuari have already been subjected to inquest proceedings.

“As soon as the courts here open, they will be formally charged,” said the police official.

The Office of Civil Defense revealed that nearly 100,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, most of them are staying in various evacuation centers while some are living with relatives.

http://www.mb.com.ph/zambo-fighting-continues/