Act of terror? Deles says Zambo siege not a legit rebellion

MANILA, Philippines - The Zamboanga City siege reportedly perpetuated by a Nur Misuari-led faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was not a legitimate rebellion, Secretary Teresita Deles said Wednesday.

"That kind of action is not a legitimate act of rebellion," Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, said on ANC Headstart. "Rebellion is [when] you fight the combatants because you don't accept the authority of government. What we are hearing from the civilians is that they were really used as human shields."

When asked on the program if she would describe the MNLF siege as an act of terror, Deles said: "Of course, it has terrorized communities, certainly, way beyond the barangays that were directly affected."

"In fact... the image of the whole country is now under question," added Deles, who also said it is difficult to use the word "terrorism" to describe the reported attacks of the rouge MNLF members.

The standoff between government troops and MNLF forces started on September 9 when the rebels occupied about five barangays of Zamboanga City to reportedly conduct a "peace rally."

The continuing crisis situation is now on its 10th day and 82,106 people from 14 barangays have been affected, according to the latest data of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Of this figure, 70,884 individuals are currently inside 30 evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC said as of Tuesday, at least 88 people have been killed including 71 MNLF members and seven civilians.

At least 166 people have also been wounded including 67 civilians.

Twenty houses have been totally burned  while five others were partially damaged due to the ongoing hostilities.

The military said it has recaptured 70 percent of the coastal areas occupied by the rebels.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said more than 100 MNLF rebels were still holding an unknown number of hostages in the remaining areas they control in five coastal villages.

The Department of Justice has started a fact-finding inquiry to determine the charges to be filed against the rogue MNLF forces in the Zamboanga standoff.

“Among the crimes being studied is rebellion. The function of the team is to make sure the proper charges are based on facts and evidence because it would be hard to file rebellion or sedition, for example, without supporting facts and evidence,” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said in an earlier report by the STAR.

Related story: DOJ starts building case vs Misuari followers

-with the Associated Press