Misuari followers urged to surrender anew

MANILA, Philippines - The military on Tuesday  renewed its call for members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Misuari faction to surrender, saying such move could be an “honorable option.”

“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is reiterating its call for Ustadz Khabir Malik’s group to surrender and to take responsibility for their actions,” AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement.

“They must consider that surrender is also an honorable option,” he added.

The military made the statement after officials of the MNLF Misuari faction said that they do not plan to surrender to authorities.

MNLF senior spokesman Reverend Absalom Cerveza said that they are adopting a “no retreat no surrender stance” and would continue to fight until they attain their aims.

MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari declared independence from the Philippines days before the fighting in Zamboanga City erupted.

Zagala said they would continue conducting “calibrated response” against the Misuari forces, who have been using human shields to evade authorities.

Security officials added that the safety of the hostages remains their “foremost priority.”

“We incurred casualties in the process because these rebels are hiding behind these hostages while spraying bullets on our troops,” said Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief of the 7th Civil Relations Group.

Cabunoc said field troops continue to employ “selective gunfire” to avoid harming civilians.

“The surgical strikes successfully occupied more than 70 percent of enemy positions in the city. Pace of operations is deliberate as to not compromise the safety of troops and civilian hostages,” he said.

The death toll from the Zamboanga crisis has risen to 90 as of Tuesday.

Majority or 72 of the fatalities were followers of Misuari, eight were soldiers seven were civilians and three were policemen.