MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III flew to Zamboanga City on Friday with a warning to the members of a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction holed up in at least five villages.
Aquino on Friday visited troops and some of the thousands displaced by the five-day standoff and warned the rebels that the government won't hesitate to use force. Though the last thing the government wants is war, he said there are lines that alleged Nur Misuari's followers should not cross.
"Tapos na ang maliligayang araw nila," Aquino said in a media briefing aired over the radio, pertaining to the MNLF members who have infiltrated some Zamboanga City villages and took hostage dozens of civilians.
"I am not that desperate to say that they (rebels) cannot be brought back to the right path," Aquino said. "But in the interest of the many ... there are lines they should not cross. If they cross that, we will be obligated to show them the force."
The President said the government is willing to talk peace to those who want to and reminded government troops to ensure the safety of civilians. Aquino also assured that he is one with the soldiers until the standoff ends.
"Siguraduhin na walang unncessary loss of lives... the preservation of life is paramount," Aquino said.
"Kadamay ninyo ako hanggang sa matapos natin ang sitwasyong ito," he added.
The crisis situation started before dawn Monday when around 200 armed rebels from an MNLF faction who seized several coastal communities and tried to hoist their flag at the city hall.
They have been in a standoff with government troops for five days now while reportedly holding scores of civilians as hostages and using them as human shields.
The standoff has reportedly claimed 18 fatalities, according to the military, as government forces sealed off the affected areas and continued to exchange fire with the rebels.
Two of those killed were civilians while 11 were from the MNLF side. Twenty of the rebels have surrendered or have been captured.
The Zamboanga City government said in its Twitter account that as of 8:45 a.m. on Friday, a total of 24,880 individuals have been evacuated due to the crisis situation.
The City Council has implemented a forced evacuation in the barangays of Rio Hondo, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, Talon-Talon, and Mampang.
Aquino said the Department of Justice is currently investigating the attack.
“Iniimbestigahan lahat ng mga actuations ni Misuari and others. From the start of the crisis, inatasan natin si Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima na tingnan kung ano ang actual na may pruweba tayo ng pinaggagawa nila,†he said.
Negotiations
Fighting once again broke out in Barangay Santa Catalina on Friday, and ABS-CBN News reported that voices, presumably of hostages, were heard shouting "cease fire, cease fire!" One government soldier was reported wounded.
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said that lines of communication with the rebels remain open and they're still refusing to surrender.
"We're negotiating," Zagala said, refusing to elaborate. with Associated Press