PNP says Malik's fate remains unknown

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14): PNP says Malik's fate remains unknown

PNP Chief, Director General Alan Purisima on Monday said that authorities were still trying to determine the whereabouts and fate of MNLF Commander Habier Malik.

"Actually hinahanap pa rin natin doon sa mga patay, samga lugar na kung saan sya maaaring matagpuan at marami pong reports na ating natatanggap at hindi pa po natin nakukumpirma kung nasaan po siya hanggang sa ngayon," Purisima said in a interview after the wreath-laying rites at the bantayog ng Bayaning Pulis in Camp Crame in honor of the five PNP personnel who died during police operations against members of the MNLF Misuari faction that laid siege in at least six barangays in downtown Zamboanga city last September 9.

Malik, led Moro National Liberation Front fighters against government forces in an almost month-long standoff that cost more than 200 lives and displaced more than 100,000 people.

The PNP Chief also said that they took DNA samples from the cadavers then they are subject for verification.

Purisima said that the authorities continue to hunt down Nur Misuari, founder of the MNLF, a group who went on a three-week long stand-off with government troops in Zamboanga City recently.

Purisima also said that while they have heard of reports that Misuari has fled abroad, they have not confirmed this.

"Yun ang mga tsismis na naririnig po natin. Wala pa po tayong official na report patungkol po dyan. Tuloy tuloy po paghahanap kay Nur Misuari, kay Malik at saka dahil meron na po silang warrant of arrest na nakalabas po laban sa kanila," he explained.

Warrants of arrest have been issued against Misuari, Malik and two other MNLF commanders on charges of rebellion and violations of international humanitarian law.

He added that a reward against them might be announced in the near future.

Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 said that clearing operations were still ongoing in Zamboanga City especially in Barangay Sta. Barbara to remove some unexploded ordnance and weed out rebel holdouts.

"Actually yung situation sa loob ng Sta Barbara ongoing yung clearing operations. Ang daming mga unexploded ordnances kaya nga dinodouble check natin to ensure napagbalik ng mga constituents hindi na magkakaroon ng complications," he said.

Huesca also denied reports the Zamboanga City crisis management committee has gave permission to residents to go back to their homes, particularly to Barangay Sta. Barbara, scene of some of the worst fighting during the standoff.

“Itong nangyari ngayon is a case of disinformation. Ang akala ng mga (residents) ng Sta. Barbara ay puwede na silang bumalik. Pero, in fact, wala naman talagang instruction ‘yung CMC na puwede nang bumalik sila ,” Huesca said.

The standoff between government troops and MNLF rebels started on September 9 and lasted for about three weeks.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=576323