Army intel tracking down followers possibly coddling Nur

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Military intelligence units have been tracking down armed followers or groups who could be providing refuge to fugitive Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari in the hinterlands of Sulu, a senior military official said.

The military stood by its reports that Misuari, who escaped after directing the bloody Sept. 9 siege in this city, has not gone out of the country and was all the while hiding in his followers' enclaves. 

Rear Admiral Isabelo Gador, chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said that intelligence units are tracking on all leads to determine whose group was securing Misuari. 

“We stick to the reports that he is still in Sulu. We will check with our intelligence units who are his coddlers,” Gador told newsmen here. 

The military official declined further comments citing sensitivity of the issue and the operation itself. 

The manhunt was launched late September by the tracking forces who were cautious to avoid engaging the other neutral MNLF faction in the province of Sulu. 

Misuari went in hiding after close to 500 MNLF followers led by Habier Malik, who were sent to take siege of Zamboanga City were quelled by the government forces after weeks of bloody standoff that saw more than 200 people, mostly rebels, killed and close to 300 MNLF captured or surrendered. More than 120,000 people were displaced.

Misuari and close to 300 of his followers are facing charges of rebellion and violation of international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity.