Military reaches out to dependents of MNLF members in Zambo siege

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government troops are reaching out to the dependents of the fallen or captured members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who participated in the bloody siege in this city two months ago, a military official said Monday.

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Philippine Army’s 104th Brigade based in Basilan, said the effort is part of the military's way of averting possible future blood dispute or Rido (clan war) or retaliation from the surviving children and families of the rebels who were eithter killed or captured at the height of the three-week siege.

More than 200 MNLF rebels and 24 government forces were killed during the siege, which was allegedly instigaged by former ARMM governor Nur Misuari.

The siege also left four villages badly devastated and close to 120,000 civilians displaced. Around half of the total number of displaced civilians remained sheltered in evacuation centers and bunk houses.

Col. Galvez said his brigade, in partnership with peace advocacy groups, local government units of Basilan and other stakeholders, initiated a dialogue and a healing session with the MNLF dependents in Barangay Parangbasak, Lamitan City, Basilan last week.

Galvez said that the families of the MNLF members showed their willingness to cooperate during the dialogue.

He said they also provided relief assistance to the MNLF dependents during the dialogue.

“The families with great resentment against the military are beginning to open up and approach and embrace the military and police as a sign of their gesture of appreciation to the dialogue and healing activity,” Galvez added.

He said they are hopeful that the peace effort would avert future armed confrontations between government troops and future generations of the MNLF.