MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Zamboanga City council today ordered a force evacuation of residents in at least six barangays in the city after the Philippine government issued an ultimatum to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels, ordering them to stand down or face the full power of the state.
Sheila Covarrubias, spokersperson of the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) that is seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the southern Philippine city, said that the measure was meant to ensure that no innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire.
Covarrubias said the city council "unanimously approved" Thursday night a ordinance "mandating the force evacuation."
"All residents from these areas are advised to go on force evacuation. The barangay officials have been advised to look for ways and means how to effect the evacuation process," said Covarrubias.
"The residents have been asked ever since to seek safer grounds because we can't say what will happen in the process, to avoid being caught in the crossfire. But last night, there was already an ordinance mandating this force evacuation," she said.
On whether the force evacuation means the situation is deteriorating, Covarrubias said: "I cannot tell if it is deteriorating. While this force eacuation is happening, we have negotiations ongoing."
Meanwhile, the CMC, chaired by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco- Salazar, is in the process of negotiating with MNLF founder Nur Misuari and MNLF commander Habier Malik. Misuari is in Sulu while Malik is leading his men in the conflict in zamboana City.
In Manila, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda made it clear at a news briefing on Thursday that the government would not hesitate to use force to end the crisis.
"While the government is exhausting all avenues for a peaceful resolution of the situation, let it be clear to those defying us that they should not entertain the illusion that the state will hesitate to use its forces to protect our people," Lacierda said.
"Instead, it is time for you to cooperate to resolve this situation peacefully at the soonest possible time. As for others who seek to take advantage of the situation, you will fail," he said. The clash between government troops and the MNLF in Zamboanga City entered its fifth day as of today. Nearly 200 MNLF rebels took about 160 to 180 hostages in Zamboanga City Monday after government troops prevented them from raising their flag at the city hall.
The MNLF used to be the largest Muslim rebel group seeking a separate state in Mindanao until it dropped secessionist demand and settled for limited autonomy under a signed agreement in 1996. But many of its guerillas held on to their firearms and periodically staged rebellions in the past, complaining the government has reneged on its promise to fully develop impoverished Muslim regions. MNLF's leader, Misuari, opposed the crafting of a peace deal by the government with the currently dominant Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front.