MORO National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari has denied any hand in the attack in Zamboanga which resulted in a standoff that entered its fourth day yesterday.
Zamboanga Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said she was able to talk with Misuari on Wednesday night and “what is of interest is that Misuari disowned the actions of Haber Malik, the leader of the hostage-takers with whom I communicated separately.”
Malik allegedly led the MNLF men, said to be loyal to Misuari, who attacked in Zamboanga on Monday morning.
Climaco-Salazar said she would leave communication lines with Misuari and Malik open in the hope of ending the crisis peacefully.
She also appealed to the MNLF to free “hostages,” specially the children, the sickly, the elderly and those with disabilities.
President Aquino ordered government agencies to ensure a stable food supply in the ZamboangaPeninsula amid the standoff in this city.
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the order to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is to ensure the shipment of food supplies to this city starting today “or Saturday, the latest.”
Aquino issued the order as the seaport and airport have been closed since Monday when hostilities broke out.
The President’s order is to ensure stable food supplies for ZamboangaPeninsula that include this city, and the Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Roxas said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also been ordered to conduct inventory of warehouses in these areas to determine what are the things needed.
Foreign aid will come. The US would snd relief supplies while the United Nation said it would provide assistance to the thousands of civilians who were displaced as a result of the armed hostilities.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the government will not hesitate to use force to end the fighting.
In a statement, Lacierda said those behind the attack and similar lawless elements taking advantage of the conflict would suffer the full brunt of the law.
“The forces of the state are ready to exercise the resolve of the government. While the government is exhausting all avenues for a peaceful resolution to the situation, let it be clear to those defying that they should not entertain the illusion that the state will hesitate to use its forces to protect our people,” said Lacierda.
Asked if the government is imposing an ultimatum, Lacierda said, “The armed group in Zamboanga can take the statement as it is.”
Lacierda said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (Biff) and the extremist Abu Sayyaf group have taken advantage of the situation.
Rebels reportedly attacked LamitanCity in Basilan and the military said it suspected it was a diversionary tactic.
As the standoff entered its fourth day, a fire broke out amid sporadic fighting between government forces and the “Misuari faction” shortly before 3 pm near the governmentun Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) in Sitio Lustre, Barangay Sta. Catalina.
Firemen were just allowed to get inside the ZCMC compound where they positioned themselves in an effort to put off the fire, according to reports over radio station DxRZ-Zamboanga.
The ZCMC has been closed since Monday when fighting broke out and majority of the patients were transferred as the established satellite emergency hospital at the Bruno gymnasium of the governmentun WesternMindanaoStateUniversity in Barangay Baliwasan.
The rest of the patients were transferred to some of the private hospitals and to the governmentun Mindanao Central Sanitarium in Barangay Pasobolong, 12.8 kilometers east of this city.
The fire however continue to spread as most of the houses in Sitio Lustre are made of light materials and are closely built to each other.
Over all, at least five fire incidents broke out since Tuesday at the height of gunfight between the soldiers and rebels.
Firemen from the Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) rushed to the fire scene but was not allowed by the troops to go near the site so as not to become easy targets of MNLF snipers.
They were only allowed to position from a safe distance while putting off the fire. (PNA)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
