VIDEO | Misuari nephew, 35 other MNLF fighters give up as 12 more bodies found in Zamboanga

From InterAksyon (Sep 25): VIDEO | Misuari nephew, 35 other MNLF fighters give up as 12 more bodies found in Zamboanga

A nephew of Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari was among 36 rebels who surrendered to authorities in Zamboanga City before noon Wednesday, authorities said.

The surrender of Ener Misuari and the other MNLF fighters, which was confirmed by Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, came as government forces recovered 12 more bodies, as well as weapons, from two villages and two more members of the police Special Action Force were killed as the deadly standoff in the vital southern port city entered its 17th day.

Eleven of the bodies were found in Barangay Sta. Catalina, one of the villages worst hit by the fighting, and another in Barangay Talon-Talon. It was not clear, however, if all the bodies were those of rebels.

In Camp Aguinaldo, Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, acting Armed Forces public affairs chief, said the rebels who surrendered Wednesday brought with them 23 high-powered firearms.

Cabunoc also said Habier Malik, a trusted lieutenant of the MNLF founder who led the estimated 200 rebels who forayed into Zamboanga and triggered the crisis on September 9, has still refused to surrender and remains holed out with “two buddies” in what the military calls a “constriction area” surrounded by troops.

Security forces have persistently belied continuing reports Malik has escaped and returned to Sulu.

On Tuesday, an MNLF commander, Salip Idjal, surrendered with seven followers in Sta. Catalina.

The military and police have yet to confirm reports another rebel commander, Tadsna Ismael, whose group was earlier reported to have taken 36 hostages, has been killed.

Other MNLF commanders authorities said joined Malik in the foray are Usong Uggong and Asamin Hussin.

Meanwhile, 1st Lieutenant Ian Paquit of the Light Reaction Company, who was hit in the neck during rescue operations in Sta. Catalina Tuesday evening, has been declared in stable condition at a hospital.

Cabunoc said Paquit’s team rescued American James West and his wife, Lucy, both in their 60s.

The Zamboanga crisis has so far claimed at least 140 lives and displaced up to 120,000 people. More than 200 have also been injured in the violence.

[Video: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71477/video--misuari-nephew-35-other-mnlf-fighters-give-up-as-12-more-bodies-found-in-zamboanga]

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