Hopes of any sign of surrender from Moro National Liberation Front
commander Habier Malik became bleaker as the bloody Zamboanga crisis reached its
19th day.
Reverend Absalom Cerveza, the MNLF spokesman for the Misuari faction, said
on Friday morning on GMA's News to Go that he received a text message from Malik
saying they are ready for whatever fate awaits them in Zamboanga
City.
Cerveza, however, did not say when he received the said
message.
[Video: NTG: Exclusive: Misuari,ipinag-utos daw na paatrasin na ang pwersa ni Habier Malik sa Zamboanga City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsBmtezAri4]
“This might be the darkest episode in the history of the MNLF,” he added.
Malik also asked for prayers for their group, Cerveza said.
Cerveza fears more blood will be shed as he said the MNLF rebels in
Zamboanga City are the “hardcore” fighters of the group who were willing to
fight to the death with no payment.
The same report, however, said that some arrested MNLF fighters admitted
they were promised P10,000 to join the rally in Zamboanga
City.
Misuari's order to retreat
Misuari's order to retreat
Meanwhile, Cerveza said MNLF founder Nur Misuari asked him to tell Malik to
retreat from the battlegrounds of Zamboanga City.
He said Misuari told him to call Malik soonest and relay the order to stand
down.
However, Cerveza said he wasn't able to contact Malik or any of the MNLF
commanders currently fighting the military in Zamboanga City.
Misuari's move came two weeks after he
disowned the actions of Malik's group, according to Zamboanga City Mayor
Beng Climaco, who said she was able to talk with
Misuari.
“Misuari disowned the actions of Habier Malik, the leader of the
hostage-takers with whom I communicated separately,” Climaco said as quoted in a
tweet of the Zamboanga City local government.
According to Cerveza, the MNLF wishes to continue talks with the government
to maintain peace. The group is also ready to face charges that will be filed
against it.
The Zamboanga crisis started on September 9 after MNLF forces engaged the
military in a gunfight in Barangay Rio Hondo.
The crisis
is now on its third week and has claimed at least 154 lives so
far.
According to the military, there are an estimated 20 MNLF fighters remaining, including Malik.
According to the military, there are an estimated 20 MNLF fighters remaining, including Malik.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.