Over 200 MNLF members charged for Zamboanga siege

MANILA, Philippines - More than 200 members of the Moro National Liberation Front have been charged with rebellion charges for the deadly standoff between the rebel group and government security forces in Zamboanga City, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Monday.

In filing the seventh amended information before the court, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said the DOJ has already indicted a total of 280 respondents, including MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari and his right-hand man Habier Malk, with rebellion charges and violation of Republic Act 9851 or crimes against humanity.

The justice department initially indicted 63 persons for the Zamboanga City standoff.

Of the total respondents, a dozen remains at large, including Misuari and Malik, whom senior government security officials believed to have been killed during the skirmishes in Zamboanga City.

Arellano said he is confident that the filing of the amended information will not delay the transfer of the case from Zamboanga City to Taguig City.

The Supreme Court earlier approved the transfer of the case from the Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court to the Taguig City Regional Trial Court due to security reasons.Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court to the Taguig City RTC due to security reasons.