Noy stays in Zamboanga City for 2nd day

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III spent the night in Zamboanga City as he closely monitors the situation in the besieged city, Malacañang said Saturday.

"He did not leave [Zamboanga City]," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said when asked if Aquino left the city after his visit on Friday.

In his visit this morning to an evacuation center, the President assured the displaced residents that the government has enough food supply for all of them.

"Nakaantabay lang ang Pangulo para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan at hindi po sila iiwan ng ating Pangulo," Valte said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that at least 44,000 people or 7,000 families have been displaced by the hostilities of the Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels.

City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said that the evacuees are staying in at least 25 temporary shelters around the city.

President Aquino visited other evacuation centers and wounded soldiers at a military hospital during his first day of stay in the city on Friday.

The government has started collating evidence and possible violations committed by the rogue rebels.

End the crisis

The mayor said that the criss in the city has been elevated as a national concern. She said that the national government is now taking a direct hand in addressing the MNLF's hostilities.

“No foolish mistake will be made by the generals, then there should be no repeat of the Cabatangan siege. And the most important thing is I want it (national goverment) to finish the crisis within the day (Saturday),” said Climaco-Salazar.

Salazar was referring to the November 2001 Cabantangan complex siege by the forces of the MNLF faction of Misuari, led by his nephew the late Julhambri Misuari, who took dozens of civilians as human shields in this city, and managed to leave after they were given safe conduct pass.

“The people do not want a repeat of the Cabangan incident,” Salazar said.

The mayor, who was able to join Aquino's meeting with police and military generals handling the crisis, said that the President's plan to resolve the crisis "are very calculated."

Fighting continues

Valte said that despite Vice President Jejomar Binay's announcement of ceasefire on Friday night, the military continued to press forward against the forces of Musiari.

She said that according to field reports, Misuari's men continued to fire at the soldiers and volunteers aiding the affected residents.

Binay said Friday night that Misuari and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin have agreed to a ceasefire.

However, Gazmin said that the agreement was the military will stop the offensive if the MNLF would refrain from firing at the soldiers and stop their atrocities against the civilians.

The military said that despite the pronouncement, the rebels attempted to move forward. with Roel Pareño