Troops start clearing operations in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Government troops started to conduct clearing operations in areas in Zamboanga City but maintained its so called “calibrated and calculated” response as there were still rebels holed out in several sites, a ground commander said.

“We are now heading towards the clearing phase with lesser resistance on the ground,” Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs chief and designated spokesman of the ground operation said. 

Zagala said there has been no reported casualty on the government as the clearing operation progressed on the 10th day of government forces' operation against the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels. 

A rebel who tried to escape Wednesday morning was killed in a brief firefight, bringing the total number to 122 rebels killed. Twenty six have been captured and 25 have surrendered.

On the government side, the fatalities remained at nine while 81 were wounded. 

Lt. Col. Johnson Jemar Aseron, 32nd Infantry Battalion commander, said his forces have maintained the security covering the stretch of Sta. Catalina to Sta. Barbara areas as there were still a number of rebels who broke away from the main group who tried to plan to merge with the civilians and escape. 

Aseron said there a number of rebels still hiding in private structures and just waiting for an opportune time to strike.

 â€œOur clearing operation remained in calculated and calibrated response since the area remained hostile because there were still a number of rebels in the sector that we have been assigned,” Aseron said. 

The military said the rebels are still believed to be holed out in KGK building and its warehouse. 

Some of the captured sites in the border of the villages have already revealed rebels casualties during the 10 days of fierce encounter.

Two decomposing bodies of rebels were discovered in a concrete house building in Sta. Barbara while two were also discovered in Kansanyangan village by the marines on clearing operation. 

The slain rebels recovered in Barangay Kasanyangan possessed several identification cards.