Military: Threat against Zamboanga City remains

From the Zamboanga Today (Sep 10): Military: Threat against Zamboanga City remains

Despite Nur Misuari-led faction Moro National Liberation Front’s ejection from Zamboanga City, the threat still exists in Zamboanga City.

Thus said Colonel Andrelino Colina, commander of the Task Force Zamboanga (ZTF), to local reporters yesterday.

He cited the presence of the Abu Sayyaf group, lost command rebels in the nearby island provinces of Basilan and Sulu, and even those who are based in Zamboanga peninsula.

“The threat remains. While they are within the proximity, they can always target Zamboanga. But it will be different this time as we have strengthened the security,” Colina added.

Assuring security as the city marks the first anniversary of the September siege, Colina said they have strengthened the number of security forces of the city’s military task force.

He said his unit, the Task Force Zamboanga, has been upgraded into Joint Task Group Zamboanga, augmented by additional battalion of marines where it was given a control of naval boat units to directly respond to any threat groups without passing protocols from unit commands.

The upgraded military unit that is securing the city is bigger than the brigade size of the military unit, according to Colina.

Fugitive MNLF chairman Misuari surfaced recently in Sulu and led flag-raising ceremonies to commemorate the first anniversary of the declaration of the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik. He was shown in full battle gear with high-powered M16 automatic rifle.

Misuari, who is wanted for rebellion, genocide and crimes against humanity for staging the Zamboanga siege in 2013, where over 200 people were killed, including civilians, and thousands displaced, rallies his supporters to pursue their right to self-determination or independence.

Also, hardline Abu Sayyaf militants operating in Basilan and the breakaway rebel group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), had earlier pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the extremist jihadists who now control large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

Clips have been uploaded in recent weeks on the video sharing site YouTube showing both the ASG and the BIFF pledging support to the ISIS.

Beheadings of journalists, mass executions and the taking of child brides have marked the ISIS campaign across large parts of Iraq and Syria.

But Armed Forces of the Philippine spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala dismissed the Abu Sayyaf and BIFF video clips, saying it is propaganda.

Late last month, Army soldiers were deployed to Sulu to take the place of Marines who were sent to Zamboanga City.

The Marines were brought in to augment the 500-member Task Force Zamboanga after recent reports of abductions in the city by members of the Abu Sayyaf.

On Monday, the Zamboanga City government led thanksgiving activities to security forces who defended the city from the MNLF. More activities have been scheduled by the city government this week to mark the first anniversary of the failed siege.

As Zamboanga marks one year since the bloody siege began September 9, thousands of people whose homes were destroyed are still living in the city’s sports stadium, where unsanitary conditions and overcrowding are widespread inside the biggest evacuation center.

However, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman said the grandstand (sports complex) is set to be closed by December 15.

“The grandstand transitional settlement plan for the over 2,000 families in the area has been plotted out,” Soliman told reporters in a press conference.

Health officials said pneumonia and other illnesses generated by the slum-like conditions have claimed 168 lives over the past year.

http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/top-stories/18539-military-threat-against-zamboanga-city-remains.html