ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The city government directed all the officials of the 98 barangays in this city to hold and suspend any issuance of residence certificate or any barangay clearance to prevent the rebels from pretending to be residents of the community.
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, chairman of the crisis management council (CMC), said the cancellation of the issuance of the residence certificates, locally known as cedula, and barangay clearance “is in view of the critical and emergency situation†presently prevailing in this city.
The CMC also decided to continue imposing a curfew as part of the contingency measures in tracking down the movements of the rebels who might try to escape the government operations.
At least two of the rebels who disguised as among the rescued hostages were detected and captured by the police forces processing their identities.
The CMC has also directed the officials of the barangays to reamin on alert of any movements of the MNLF fighters.