MANILA, Philippines - Authorities have recovered another body of an alleged follower of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari in a shallow grave in one of barangays recently occupied by the Muslim rebels in Zamboanga City, police said on Friday.
Zamboanga City police said a local task force found a suspected MNLF fighter Thursday around 11 a.m. in a shallow grave at Ayer Village, Brgy. Sta. Barbara.
Police said the cadaver, which was about 5' 6" in height, was buried a foot deep beside a house owned by Jul Hassan Halil.
The cadaver wore an MNLF uniform with a name cloth bearing "S.Nur" and "Basilan Task Force."
Law enforcers brought the cadaver to Villa Funeral Homes.
Scene of the Crime Operation personnel Regional Crime Laboratory Office 9 was requested to process the cadaver and conduct post mortem examination.
Last Sept. 9, a dozens of MNLF fighters went to Zamboanga City and occupied at least five villages, starting a 24-day standoff with government security forces.
During the clearing operations, government troops retrieved several bodies from the scenes of the skirmishes, which killed numerous people, including five policemen.