30 MNLF fighters yield

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 25): 30 MNLF fighters yield

Hungry and fatigued, 30 fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), including a commander who is a nephew of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari, surrendered yesterday to government authorities in Zamboanga City, the military said.

Contrary to the military’s claim, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the Moro fighters were arrested following another joint police and military operation in the remaining areas where MNLF-Misuari faction are still holed up.

Commander Enir Misuari (nephew of Nur) was captured together with other Moro fighters, said Roxas in a text message (SMS).

Despite the surrender or capture, fighting continues as three government security men – two policemen and one soldier – and four MNLF gunmen were killed in the latest skirmishes as the Zamboanga crisis entered its 17th day.

In a press briefing at Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, Army 7th Civil Relations Group (CRG) commander and acting Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, said the 30 followers of Misuari surrendered at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday.

Cabunoc said the 30 MNLF men gave themselves up to military forces conducting clearing operations in Barangays Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina.

23 Firearms Seized

He added 23 high-powered firearms were seized from the rebels.

When asked what prompted the surrender of Misuari’s followers, Cabunoc said: “Sa sobrang gutom at nakita at nababalitaan nila sa kanilang mga kaanak na tinrato naman ng mabuti yung mga nagsurrender kahapon.”

According to Cabunoc, clearing operations are still ongoing as government troops continue to search for Malik, who is believed to have led the Zamboanga siege. Malik is one of the trusted followers of Misuari.

10 MNLF Men Left Fighting – AFP

Cabunoc placed the number of remaining MNLF fighters at “five to 10,” including Malik who refuse to surrender.

“Our soldiers on the ground are employing loud speakers using Tausug language to encourage the remaining attackers who have gone into hiding to surrender,” said Cabunoc.

50 MNLF Men Still Fighting – Police

While the military claimed that only five to 10 MNLF fighters are left to fight government forces, police said that based on the intelligence information and the testimony of captured Moro rebels, Malik is now only commanding less than 50 armed men, most of them veterans and his most trusted men, Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of the Zamboanga Peninsula regional police, said.

He added that Malik appeared to be facing difficulty getting out of Zamboanga City with the presence of police and military forces virtually surrounding them. (With a report from Nonoy E. Lacson)

So far, 14 soldiers were killed while 146 were wounded in Zamboanga City.
Yesterday, two police officers also died while rescuing hostages. They are PO2 Lawin B. Salisa and PO2 Enrique Afable III.

One soldier was likewise killed and another was wounded during rescue mission that led to the surrender of the bulk of Misuari’s forces.

149 Schools Resume Classes in Zambo

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday announced that a total of 149 schools resumed classes in Zamboanga City after almost three weeks of class suspension due to the fighting.

However, only a few students in attendance after parents declined to allow their children to attend their classes due to the still very volatile peace and order condition prevailing in the city.

In some elementary and high schools, only teachers and their school principals and no pupils and students had reported to their respective schools.

While in some schools, it has been reported by school officials that only about one percent of their total number of pupils and students had reported to their school on the first day of classes yesterday.

14 Out of 7,000 Students Show Up

In Zamboanga City National High School North, for instance, out of the over 7,000 students only 14 students showed up at the school yesterday morning.

Dr. Romeo Sta. Teresa, principal of Sta. Maria Central School, said that out of 3,895 pupils, only 38 reported to school yesterday.

The school is about five kilometers from the villages of Sta. Catalina, Lustre, Sta. Barbara, the sites where the military is conducting clearing operations.

Rizalino Rivera, DepEd Undersecretary for Regional Operation, together with Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman and Roxas witnessed the poor turned out of students during the resumption of classes at Sta. Maria Elementary School yesterday. (With reports from Nonoy E. Lacson and Ina Hernando Malipot)
According to Rivera the opening of classes yesterday was a decision made by the local Crisis Management Committee during a meeting they held recently.

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