Palace: AFP drops flyers urging remaining MNLF rebels in Zambo City to surrender

From GMA News (Sep 22): Palace: AFP drops flyers urging remaining MNLF rebels in Zambo City to surrender

As the crisis involving clashes between government and Moro National Liberation Front forces threatens to enter its third week, the military has started dropping flyers in MNLF-controlled areas of Zamboanga City, urging them to surrender.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Sunday some of the followers of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari had responded to the messages brought by the flyers.

“Nagpapalapag sila ng flyer sa area kung saan pinaniniwalaang naroon... ang mga elemento ng Misuari faction. Ang nakalagay sa flyer, sumuko na po, kung pwede itigil ang hostilities doon," she said on government-run dzRB radio.

“So far meron namang tumutugon, sana lahat sila tumugon (So far some have responded to the messages. We hope all of them will also respond),” she added. But she did not elaborate

Misuari’s followers have engaged government forces in armed confrontations since Sept. 9 in Zamboanga City after the rebel group took several civilians hostage.

But many of the hostages have since been released or have escaped, while the military claimed it has retaken most of the MNLF-controlled areas.

However, Valte said the flyers do not mean the military is easing up its operations to “push forward” against Misuari’s followers.

“Patuloy ang clearing operations (The clearing operations will continue),” she said.

Meanwhile, Valte said it will be up to the Department of Justice to determine if charges will be filed against Misuari over the Zamboanga City standoff.

“Perhaps that announcement will be coming from the DOJ. The President tasked the Secretary of Justice to look into possible cases that can be filed in connection with the Zamboanga situation,” she said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/327605/news/nation/palace-afp-drops-flyers-urging-remaining-mnlf-rebels-in-zambo-city-to-surrender