2 priests trapped in Zamboanga City standoff

MANILA, Philippines - Two priests are among those trapped in the standoff between security forces and several fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City, an official of the Catholic Church said on Tuesday.

Monsignor Chris Manongas, administrator of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, confirmed that the two priests, one of whom is the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese, are holed up inside the cathedral in the area

"Some are even trapped there. There are two priests there who were trapped kasama nila ang mga evacuees. Hindi sila makalabas ng simbahan...Nakausap ko isa sa kanila then they said they have no food, they have no water," Manongas said.

Manongas said that they have been trying to enter the area, but they are being prevented by the ongoing fighting.

"I am having a difficulty on how to penetrate the place because it’s cordoned. We are not allowed to come inside and it is also very dangerous because the fighting is beside the church and they cannot get out anymore," Manongas told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

To date, several MNLF rebels allied with Nur Misuari, are now in the villages of Mariki, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina and Rio Hondo.

Manongas also confirmed that the Muslim rebels have released five more hostages on Tuesday, including four women and a child.

He noted that Church personnel are now trying to help and feed thousands of evacuees who have fled to the Zamboanga City grandstand, schools, and the cathedral to avoid being caught in the middle of the hostilities.

"We still have a very tense situation. We are still monitoring the situation and at the same time we are trying to help the evacuees. We have thousands of evacuees already. May mga evacuee sa school at sa grandstand. Our social action staff will go there again to help the people.

"Yesterday, nagkaroon ng stampede kasi people were very hungry. All stores are closed, all banks are closed; you cannot buy anything. There are not even transportation running around. Everybody is afraid, it’s very dangerous. Patuloy naman ang pagtutok natin sa mga tao, sa cathedral may mga pamilya din tayong kinakalinga, we are feeding the evacuees," he added.