'Fog of war' to blame for discrepancies in Zamboanga City stand-off figures

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 27): 'Fog of war' to blame for discrepancies in Zamboanga City stand-off figures

With the Zamboanga City stand-off now on its 19th day, Lt. Col Harold Cabunoc, 7th Civil Relations Group commander, attributes the discrepancies in remaining Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters and hostages to the so-called "fog of war".

The latter term refers to the confusion in ascertaining figures in the battlefield.

Cabunoc also stressed that this does not mean that the military is manipulating the figures.

He attributes the changing numbers to the fluidity of the situation in the battlefield.

But the Army officer clarified that the military is doing all it can to present the figures accurately to the public.

Cabunoc also stressed that no MNLF fighter though has broken the military cordon.

He also said that the military is doing all it can to end the conflict at the soonest possible time so that Zamboanga City residents can start rebuilding again.

Cabunoc added that they are still verifying reports that MNLF commander Habier Malik was wounded in the ongoing fighting in the constriction areas in Barangays Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina as this is to be confirmed by military sources.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=570537