MANILA: The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) denied that its members attacked villages in Zamboanga City, claiming that their forces were harassed by the Philippine Navy yesterday morning.
Lawywer Emmanuel Fontanilla, MNLF spokesperson, said in an interview on ANC that their members arrived in Zamboanga City for a peace rally when they were allegedly harassed by the naval personnel. “The other party has approached and harassed some groups of the MNLF and unfortunately, there was an encounter,” said Fontanilla.
Reports said Philippine Navy forces clashed with about 300 suspected MNLF members, who were on board a large motorboat and eight smaller vessels off the village of Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City.
The clash has spread to the villages of Lustre and Sta Barbara, where at least 20 people have been reportedly taken hostage by the MNLF group led by Haber Malik, a Moro rebel commander identified with former ARMM governor Nur Misuari.
In its Facebook account, the MNLF denied that an attack was initiated and that civilians were taken as hostages.
“Media published it as an ‘ATTACK’. The truth is, there was no ‘ATTACK’ because there are no shootings yet,” the MNLF said in its Facebook page maintained by John Petalcorin, the group’s director for advocacy communication.
“If you mean like a hold-up hostage situation that you see in movies, there is none. Everyone in Zamboanga City now is a hostage inside their houses or cars as a result of their own fear, especially those inside the convergence zone,” the MNLF added. Petalcorin said they have “no idea” about the reported attack yesterday.
The Zamboanga City Government said in its official Twitter account that certain residents still remain trapped at Baranagay Sta Catalina where some MNLF members are reportedly stationed. It added that 11 MNLF members were confirmed arrested by the Zamboanga City Police Office.
Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco has also convened a crisis management meeting. Climaco has suspended office work and classes in all levels in both public and private schools in the city due to the reported clash.
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