MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III flew to Zamboanga City Friday with vows to come down hard on Moro National Liberation Front fighters engaged in a standoff with government forces if they harmed their civilian hostages or resorted to flagrant destruction.Aquino's visit came as fighting raged for the fifth day as the MNLF released a Catholic priest they had held hostage and the head of their peace panel confirmed the purpose of the foray into Zamboanga City was an attempt to "gain independence." Rev. Absalom Cerveza also denied earlier reports that their founder, Nur Misuari, had disowned a trusted aide who commands their fighters in Zamboanga.
The violence in Zamboanga prompted the United States embassy in Manila issued a travel warning to its citizens and other foreigners on threats posed by extremist groups in Mindanao.
"We're not setting a deadline but we have decisive points. If they harmed hostages, resorted to arson and crossed other lines that should not be crossed, our security forces have instructions on what to do," Aquino told reporters as he called the MNLF's actions a "desperate" attempt to derail a peace settlement with the rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front that is seen to end decades of Muslim rebellion.
At least 22 people have been killed and 52 wounded in five days of fighting, while 19 MNLF fighters have surrendered or been captured, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala told AFP.
Aquino's visit comes a day after Malacanang spokesman Edwin Lacierda said government would not hesitate to use force to end the standoff. Lacierda made the statement after fighting broke out in nearby Basilan province between government forces and MNLF fighters who had reportedly joined forces with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Abu Sayyaf.
Hostage priest released
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II confirmed that Fr. Michael Ufana was released early Friday morning “with certain conditions” set by the rebels.
Roxas has yet to disclose these conditions but said the priest was freed with the bodies of two MNLF members.
At the same time, Roxas denied a report Thursday night about the supposed surrender of 70 to 80 MNLF fighters. "Walang sumuko kagabi na 70 to 80 MNLF members," he said, reiterating that the rebels are surrounded by government forces and confined to five villages, "a very, very small portion of Zamboanga City."
'War for independence'
Explaining why the MNLF went to Zamboanga, Rev. Absalom Cerveza, chair of the MNLF peace panel, told radio station dzMM: “If you win in the war, you will gain your independence. So it happened. MNLF followed this track to gain its indepedence.”
“'Yung impression na nagpunta sila roon para sa isang peace caravan, hindi totoo ‘yun (The impression they went there for a peace caravan, that's not true). This is a war for independence,” he said.
Cerveza also disputed Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar’s earlier claim that Misuari tolkd her he had not sanctioned the actions of Habier Malik, who commands the fighters in Zamboanga.
He quoted Misuari as saying: “I have never disowned Malik, I have never disowned responsibility (for the events in Zamboanga), I was only misinterpreted.”
“It is obvious na hindi naman puwede mag-ano si Malik na (that Malik cannot act) without the blessing of the Chairman. And the Chairman has never disowned or denied the responsibility sa mga nangyayaring ito (for these events),” he added.
Forced evacuation
The Zamboanga City council meanwhile unanimously approved an ordinance for the forced evacuation of the six villages affected by the crisis -- Sta. Catalina, Sta. Barbara, Mampang, Talon-Talon, Rio Hondo and Bungan -- as Climaco-Salazar said a "localized ceasefire" was in place "to allow negotiations."
Shiela Covarubias, spokesperson of the city crisis management council, said residents still in the six villages “are advised to go on forced evacuation. Barangay officials have been advised to look for ways and means kung paano ang proseso ng (to implement the process of) evacuation. Actually, the people have been asked ever since (to evacuate), they were advised to seek safer grounds, kasi nga hindi natin masabi kung anong mangyayari (because we cannot say what might happen), to avoid being caught in the crossfire,” Covarubias said in a phone interview.
However, aside from those seized by the rebels as "human shields," reports indicate that scores of residents appear to have been trapped in their homes by the fighting, unable to leave because of the risk of being caught in the crossfire.
Shutdown
The MNLF siege on Zamboanga has shut down the progressive, bustling city for five days -- its airport closed, sailing schedules cancelled, courts and offices closed, classes suspended, and shops running low on supplies.
More than 15,000 residents have had to flee their homes and are now crammed inside evacuation centers.
At least 15 people have died and more than two dozen others injured. Scores of residents are also believed held as "human shields" by the rebels or trapped in their homes, unable to flee for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
Military spokesman Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan said an estimated 183 civilians were still being held hostage as human shields by the armed followers of MNLF founder Nur Misuari.
"We envision that there will be a peaceful result to this with the armed men laying down their arms and releasing the civilians," he told AFP.
'Emergency message'
A statement dated September 12 said: “The US Embassy wishes to alert US citizens that a credible threat against foreigners has been identified in southern Mindanao. Individuals associated with known extremist groups are believed to have been conducting surveillance on public shopping malls and western-based cafés in the area, as possible targets of interest.”
The advisory is the sixth travel alert issued against the Philippines since the crisis broke at dawn Monday in Zamboanga City.
On Thursday, soldiers battled hundreds of armed men on Basilan island, a ferry boat away from Zamboanga, and officials said these were apparently a mix of several groups -- the MNLF, the Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF, a splinter faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
They theorized that these groups were in "solidarity" with the armed men in Zamboanga. Four people -- a soldier and three rebels -- died in the Basilan clashes.
The US advisory said extremists “target both official and private interests.”
It listed examples of such targets as "high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and other destinations frequented by foreigners.”
The advisory continued: “As a result, the Embassy advises all US citizens residing in the southern Mindanao area to exercise extreme caution and re-evaluate their personal safety situation. The Embassy strongly reiterates its recommendation that US citizens exercise extreme caution when travelling to Mindanao and to keep personal safety and security in mind during any stay in Mindanao.”
By Jaime Sinapit
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