Military: MNLF commander Malik probably among MNLF dead; no word from rebel side

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14): Military: MNLF commander Malik probably among MNLF dead; no word from rebel side

AFP Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Maj. Franco Alano Monday said there is a probability Moro National Liberation Front commander Habier Malik, a ranking aide of Nur Misuari, who led the attack in Zamboanga City last month, was killed during the 20-day fighting and among the MNLF dead.

Alano made this statement after ground units conducting clearing operations have recovered two cadavers similar to Malik's built and features.

"But this is still without confirmation," he added.

Alano stressed that the bodies are now being processed by the Philippine National Police as they have technical means to do so.

There has been no immediate reaction from the MNLF side.

The AFP Western Mindanao Command spokesperson said that verifying this information is going to be a hard task as MNLF fighters don't use uniforms and are generally without any identification tags or marks.

Alano added that they are still verifying reports that Malik may have escaped.

However, checking out this information is going to be hard as information concerning the MNLF commander's alleged escape is coming from second and third hand sources.

Meanwhile, the AFP Western Mindanao Command spokesperson said that intelligence information they have indicates that Misuari is still in the Philippines.

"We have no report to indicate that he fled out of the country," Alano stressed.

He also declined to comment on why the Philippine National Police is taking its time to arrest the MNLF founding chair, adding the police is planning to a "calibrated approach" on the matter.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=576210