Reports of armed men landing in Zambo trigger tension

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - Tension gripped this city as wild reports of an impending attack circulated following reported sightings of landing of armed groups in the coastal village and mountain border here.

The information prompted the police and military to  verify the reported presence of the armed men believed to be members  of the  Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Barangay Labuan, a village that borders the town of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte province.

The reports of impending arrival of gunmen have been circulating since Friday.
Troops and police forces verifying the reports saw no presence or arrival of any group of armed men, said City Police Public Affairs chief Senior Police Officer 2 Alexander Mabalot.

Col. Andrenilo Colina, chief of the anti-terror unit Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ), said troops have been stationed in the coastal areas and border of this city to monitor possible movement of armed men.

"The movement of the MNLF based on the text messages was properly addressed and verified. It was proven to be false. There is no movement,” Mabalot said.

He added that the reports of the arrival of men on board a motorboat carrying wounded comrade in the east coast village turned out to be a group of fishermen on illegal fishing venture.

Mabalot said the wounded man was a victim of accidental explosion of dynamite the group was using.

The police also recovered  bottles containing ammonium nitrate with blasting caps designed as dynamites.

City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar appealed to the residents here to stay vigilant as the city continue its rehabilitation program to bring back to their place of origin the 26,000 residents displaced during the September siege staged by the MNLF last year.