Gov't troops deployed in Zamboanga to stand down amid talks with MNLF

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Government troops are standing down to give way to negotiations to secure the release of 168 hostages being held by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters holed up in several villages in Zamboanga City.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is adopting the posture while it is pouring in additional troops and assets to the city as part of the contingency measure in place, AFP spokesman Brigadier Domingo Tutaan told a phone interview.

AFP public affairs office chief Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said the military is giving the Crisis Management Committee (CMC), chaired by Zamboanga City mayor Isabel Climaco-Salazar, the leeway to find a "peaceful solution to this...At the moment, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is standing down to pave the way for possible negotiations."

As of press time, Zagala said a standoff is still prevailing in the villages of Sta Catalina, Talon-Talon, Kasangyaan and Sta Barbara. He said the MNLF fighters are holding 168 hostages in these areas that are presently cordoned by "thousands" of troops.

Asked to elaborate on the stand down stance of the military, Zagala said: "We are not advancing into the areas where they ( MNLFs) are. We are just there (in the cordon). We are situated in the area wherein we can cordon them off."

Tutaan said there is still no order for the military to assault the MNLF fighters' position, adding that what they are doing at present is to prevent these armed men, numbering about 180, from leaving these areas.

Zagala said there have been on and off fighting since today night, with no reported casualties, as the MNLF fighters tried to break through the cordon. "These skirmishes were due to their containment, they can't go out and we won't let them leave," he said.

The skirmishes between government troops and MNLF fighters broke out shortly after about 60 to 100 MNLF rebels swooped down at the coast Rio Hondo village around 1:30 a.m. Monday. At present, official reports of casualties were four killed and 21 injured.

The MNLF signed a peace accord with the government in 1996. They are opposing the ongoing peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on belief that it will sideline the peace pact they forged.