Military offers reconciliation to MNLF-MG relatives, 3 months after Zambo City siege

From the Daily Tribune (Dec 10): Military offers reconciliation to MNLF-MG relatives, 3 months after Zambo City siege

Three months after the bloody, 20-day siege in Zamboanga City, the military has started reaching out to dependents of the members of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari Group (MNLF-MG) involved in the conflict that erupted last September, offering cash assistance.

In a press statement issued yesterday, the Army’s 104th Brigade, led by Col. Carlito Galvez, said that the move, launched in partnership with Nagdilaan Foundation, local government units and other stakeholders, was implemented in Basilan province recently.

Galvez said the military also engaged the relatives of the MNLF-MG involved in the Zamboanga City siege in a dialog.

“With the help of our partners, we were able to distribute foods and cash assistance to the dependents,” Galvez said.

“The families with great resentment against the military are beginning to open-up and approach and embrace the military and police as a sign of their gesture of appreciation to the dialog and healing activity,” he added.

The move is expected to be implemented in other areas where members and relatives of MNLF-MG reside.

Army 1st Infantry Division (ID) chief Brig. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad ordered for the propagation of such activity to reach out to the dependents of other MNLF-MG members in other areas.

“Only through this effort that the MNLF-MG dependents understand what happened in Zamboanga City that took the lives of their loved ones. By acting in their predicaments, we will foster the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’ (volunteerism), for the people and for the achievement of long lasting peace in this part of the Philippines,” said Trinidad.

Three months after the bloody siege, the military has yet to account for Nur Misuari, tagged as the brains behind the attack launched by his loyalists, led by Ustadz Habier Malik, whose fate also remained unknown. Both Misuari and Malik are now the subjects of arrest warrant.

While the government claimed that Malik was killed during the siege, it has offered no concrete proof to back up such claim.

On the other hand, Misuari has continuously evade arrest and the MNLF-Misuari faction claims he will be attending the ongoing foreign minister meeting of the powerful Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) which invited Misuari in the meet in Conakry, republic of Guinea in Africa.

Misuari is recognized by OIC as representative of the MNLF which holds a permanent observer status in the powerful group of Muslim states worldwide.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/military-offers-reconciliation-to-mnlf-mg-relatives-3-months-after-zambo-city-seige