Troops continue clearing Zambo of MNLF fighters

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Fighters of the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) splintered and dug the ground, and took along with them 20 more hostages,  delaying the government forces’ operation to finally clear the conflict area as the standoff entered its third week now.

The government forces said the immediate areas of Sta. Catalina and Sta. Barbara have remained critical and declared as red zone where less than 50 rebels have occupied and holed up in clusters of houses in the past four days since they were flushed out of two-storey concrete house structures.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, designated spokesman of the military operations, said troops have closed in on the location of the rebels but remain cautious on as rebels continue to hold hostages.

“Nakadikit na ang tropa, of course paramount pa rin ang safety ng hostages,” Zagala said.

The houses where the rebels were occupying were made of concrete materials with narrow alleys that run through connecting sitios of Bugok in Sta. Catalina, and Kasanyangan village which are all adjacent to mangrove areas.

Intermittent gunfights were heard throughout Sunday night and Monday morning as government snipers fired shots to  prevent rebels escaping.

Attack helicopter MG520 fired rounds of rockets in the past few days until Sunday while Huey choppers conducted  a “persuasion” flight  around the area where the rebels have been hiding.

Since the standoff last Sept. 9, the police have officially tallied the rebel casualties at 98, while 99 were captured and 24 others surrendered.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said  government forces  are continuing their clearing operations on the site.

Huesca said government forces suffered 14 casualties, and 147 wounded. There were 11 civilians killed and 70 others were wounded.