MANILA, Philippines - The military denied yesterday that a failure of intelligence allowed 300 to 400 armed fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to land in Zamboanga City and occupy several Muslim-dominated coastal villages.
However, Archdiocese of Zamboanga administrator Monsignor Crisologo Manongas believes the MNLF was able to take more than 200 hostages because of a failure of intelligence on the part of the military.
The attack on Zamboanga City might be connected with the planned regional peace summit in the city today, he added.
Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said troops were already on the ground to block an MNLF advance towards Zamboanga City Hall, where the fighters planned to hoist the Bangsamoro Republik flag.
“No, there’s no failure of intelligence,†he said. “Those who are saying these things probably don’t know the process and the workings of intelligence.â€
The military is containing the situation on the ground to prevent a spillover of violence to other areas in Zamboanga City and in nearby provinces, and the entire Mindanao, Tutaan said.
Following fighting on land and sea, the military threw a naval blockade around Zamboanga City to prevent any MNLF move to send reinforcements.
Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said a maritime interdiction operation was launched, resulting in a sea encounter off the coast of Rio Hondo at 1:45 a.m. yesterday after military intelligence uncovered the MNLF plot to land in Zamboanga City.
“How can there be a failure of intelligence when our troops encountered them first at sea and when they were able to land, our ground troops – already anticipating the landing – were there to block their advance towards the city hall,†he said.
Zagala said a Navy commando was killed and five others, including an officer, were wounded in the fighting.
The 100 armed MNLF fighters were aboard a basnig and other smaller boats, he added.
Zagala said four MNLF fighters were killed in the fighting when the rebels tried to move towards Zamboanga City Hall yesterday.
A policeman and two civilians were also killed, he added.
Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor said they are checking possible intelligence lapses of the Zamboanga City police in detecting the MNLF attack. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan, Delon Porcalla