Fighting resumes in Zambo; more hostages taken

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  -  Sniper shots  from the Moro National Liberation Front  (MNLF) rebels positioned at the tower of a mosque in Sta. Barbara village rang out at the break of dawn as fighting resumed in this city.

Troops trying to clear the area  of rebels were met with intermittent shots, prompting the continuation of occasional exchanges of gunfire that broke the silence in downtown where shops remained close for the second straight day.

Additional Marines and the elite unit of the Light Reaction Company (LRC) reinforced the clearing forces on the ground.

There was an initial sign that rebels wanted to yield as a white flag was hoisted from the rebels' position and could be seen from a distance. However, the flag was later taken down and fighting resumed.

A civilian was slightly wounded when he was hit by a stray  bullet believed  to have come from the rebels’ direction. A police officer was also hit on the leg by a sniper's shot.

Additional hostages have been taken by the rebel group's  other faction in Barangay Mampang ,whose members are trying to reinforce the main group holed out in Sta. Barbara.

The MNLF group under Commander Hadji Amin Ajirin took at least nine villagers and used them as guides and walked toward the adjacent Barangay Talon-Talon, bringing the  number of hostages to 228.

Rebels held hostages since Monday when the hostility broke out.

However, Engr. Muktar Muarip negotiated with  the group for the release of five of the nine hostages, mostly females and a young boy.

“We tried to convince them  (rebels) to stay to avoid possible bloodshed,”Muarip told local radio here.

Elsewhere in the city, there seemed to be panic buying as few convenient stores opened for business with residents lining up for provisions.

All the patients at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), located just a few hundreds away from hostile grounds have been relocated to the gymnasium of Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) that was converted as an emergency hospital. 

Zamboanga City government

The Zamboanga City government said in its official Twitter account that at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, some 30 armed MNLF forces used civilians as human shields and were monitored proceeding to Barangay Sta. Catalina.

But they were blocked by government forces manning checkpoints in the area, the city government added.

In an interview on ANC on Tuesday morning, Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco said the MNLF forces have a total of 170 "hostages" as of the moment.

There were reportedly 200 MNLF personnel, said Climaco, adding that lines are open for negotiators.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in its Twitter account that on Tuesday morning, six hostages, five of whom are children, were released by the MNLF forces.

"As of 8:30 a.m., five children and one adult were released in Barangay Talon-Talon. MNLF Misuari group in the said barangay (is) requesting for water and bread," the AFP said in its Twitter account.

Zamboanga City was shut down on Monday after suspected armed followers of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari engaged government troops in skirmishes and took some villagers hostage after an alleged failed attempt to take over city hall, raise their flag and declare independence.

Related story: Zamboanga City shut down as MNLF men attack its villages

The MNLF earlier clarified that some of the civilians who were reportedly taken as hostages were merely stranded in their area due to the  crisis situation.

An official of the group also denied they initiated the attack in Zamboanga City that has claimed at least four fatalities and wounded several others.

Related story: MNLF denies 'attack,' cries harassment

In a statement on Monday evening, Climaco said a curfew starting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. has been imposed due to the ongoing crisis situation in the city.

With the curfew, only people working directly in managing the situation will be permitted to go around the city including those in the medical profession and working for evacuation and distribution of relief goods.

Others who will be out on the streets will be invited for interrogation, according to Climaco.

"On this light, we advise people to stay in your homes, do not go out of the streets unless it is of utmost importance. The police and military are properly handling the situation," she said.

Classes in all levels in both private and public schools remain suspended on Tuesday.

Work in all offices has also been suspended except for those providing frontline services like social welfare, city administrator, mayor’s office, and the city engineer’s office, and health office among several others.