AFTER almost a week of absence from public view, President Aquino surfaced yesterday, saying he intends to see the Zamboanga City crisis to its conclusion.
In a press conference at the Zamboanga Airport, he said he would return to Manila when the standoff between government forces and a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front is over or close to its end.
He said does not expect the crisis, which started on September 9, “to take too long.”
He said does not expect the crisis, which started on September 9, “to take too long.”
He said he had to go to Zamboanga because he is the commander in chief and “at the end of the day, everything is my responsibility.”
Aquino flew to Zamboanga on September 13. Malacañang would not say where he has been staying, invoking security reasons.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said, “We seek the kind understanding of the media that we are not able to give very specific details about the President and his movement in Zamboanga City because as we are aware it is a conflict zone, there’s an ongoing conflict and security protocol has to be observed.”
He also said: “He has been performing all his duties as commander in chief and chief executive. He has been in constant touch with Cabinet officials and performing his duties even while he is actively monitoring and overseeing operations which we are told by the AFP is now in clearing stage.”
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said he does not know when Aquino will return to Manila.
“He wants to give solutions to problems we are confronting. We always hold meetings. We hold meetings in the morning, at noon and in the evening to discuss how we can solve all these,” he said.
Gazmin also said government forces are not rushing operations to end the conflict.
“We are not going full blast in the operation because we want to ensure the safety of hostages…It’s better that we do this slowly so the hostages will be safe,” he said.
“We have to finish this and ensure the safety of the remaining hostages,” he said, adding that President Aquino’s instruction, right from the very start, is to ensure the safety of hostages.
Only about 20 residents remain in the hands of the MNLF men, said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan.
Officials have said there were 180-200 hostages at the start of the conflict. As of Wednesday, 178 hostages have been rescued, recovered, or freed, or have escaped.
The MNLF men, from a high of 200 to 300, are now down to less than 70 and concentrated in two barangays — Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina. Fifteen MILF fighters surrendered yesterday.
Gazmin, citing information from the intelligence community, said MNLF fighters have been going to the city before the outbreak of the conflict last September 9.
“Prior to this incident, they have been visiting their relatives and supporters and we assume they were organizing their logistics system,” said Gazmin.
He also said fighting with the MNLF men identified with the faction of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari is “confined in small areas.”
The National Capital Region Police Office ordered its five police district directors to hold dialogues with Muslim communities in their respective areas to determine if there are MNLF men in their communities.
NCRPO chief Director Marcelo Garbo issued the directive bid to prevent a spillover of the hostilities in the metropolis.
NCRPO chief Director Marcelo Garbo issued the directive bid to prevent a spillover of the hostilities in the metropolis.
Senior Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief of the PNP public information office, said part of the dialogue is encouraging Muslim elders to relay information on the presence of MNLF rebels and sympathizers who might launch sympathy attacks in Metro Manila as a diversion to the hostilities in Zamboanga City.
“He (Garbo) would also like to assure the public that this is a more proactive action and there is nothing to be alarmed about,” said Senior Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief of the PNP public information office.
CASUALTIES
A young officer from the elite Light Reaction Company and eight MNLF men were killed yesterday.
The 30-year-old 1Lt. John Kristopher Rama, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2008, is the first military officer to die in the conflict.
Rama is the assault platoon leader and concurrent administrative officer of the 1st Light Reaction Company, a US-trained counter-terrorist unit.
He was leading soldiers in building-to-building clearing operations in barangay Sta. Barbara village at around 6 a.m. yesterday when a burst of enemy fire hit him in the face, said Tutaan.
“He is the first officer of the AFP to be killed in action,” said Tutaan.
A military source said Rama was leading the clearing of an upper portion of a building when hit by a sniper fire from lower ground.
Rama’s death brought to 12 the total number of soldiers killed in the conflict. The 11 other military fatalities are all enlisted personnel.
The number of wounded soldiers also rose to 108, including some officers, yesterday.
Tutaan said a total of 86 MNLF fighters have been killed since the conflict broke out, excluding the eight MNLF fatalities reported by Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commander of the military’s 7th Civil Relations Group.
He said the number of MNLF fighters who have surrendered or captured is 93.
He said the number of MNLF fighters who have surrendered or captured is 93.
Three policemen also died and 12 others were wounded since the conflict broke out. On the civilian side, Tutaan said there are seven fatalities and 67 wounded. He said over a hundred thousand residents have been displaced.
‘SUPREME SACRIFICE’
Tutaan said the soldiers were able to return fire, triggering a brief exchange of gunfire. The MNLF fighters disengaged with no reported enemy casualty.
“It is a supreme sacrifice so to speak. We feel not only for the officer killed but also for the 11 soldiers who were killed over the past 11 days,” he said.
“It is very unfortunate that these things have to happen but the thing is that, even with this supreme sacrifice, we will not falter in undertaking our duty to protect the people,” he added.
Cabunoc said six MNLF fighters were killed in a clash with elite soldiers while on clearing operations in Sta. Catalina at around 2 p.m. yesterday.
Earlier at around 11:30 a.m., soldiers also clashed with the armed group in Sta. Barbara village, leaving two other MNLF fighters dead.
“They are doing building-to-building clearing operation. There have been on and off fighting between the two sides. As we speak, there is ongoing fighting in the areas,” Cabunoc also said.
On Wednesday, the military said enemy resistance has waned due to the dwindling number of MNLF fighters who are also running low in ammunition.
SPLINTERED
Tutaan, asked if the operation can be completed in a week, said: “If the soldiers are to be asked, even in less than a week. But again, it is very dependent on the evolving situation; the situation evolves as it progresses.”
He said the MNLF fighters have splintered into small groups. He said they are mobile in a two- to three-hectare area full of buildings and houses.
He said the MNLF fighters have splintered into small groups. He said they are mobile in a two- to three-hectare area full of buildings and houses.
“It is a large residential area, it is not a plain field wherein in the middle that’s where they are and we could just encircle just like that,” said Tutaan.
He said the other constraint in the operation is the presence of civilians.
Also, Tutaan said the situation in Zamboanga is now beginning to normalize, at least in the other areas not affected by the conflict, adding that airline flights have resumed yesterday.
“In the other areas of Zamboanga City, I would say that they are slowly going back to normalization so to speak. Flights have been already allowed…Some business establishments in the areas not directly affected have already opened up,” he said.
SURRENDER
Aquino asked the MNLF men remaining holed up in several areas in the city to rethink their position. He said is not yet too late for them to surrender and prevent more deaths.
He said government remains open to continuing peace talks with the other MNLF factions that wish to talk even if the administration is ready to continue defending the country against those who prefer to do harm.
Aquino said the government continues to look at possible charges against those behind the attack, adding more and more evidence linking Misuari to the attack are surfacing.
Aquino said the government continues to look at possible charges against those behind the attack, adding more and more evidence linking Misuari to the attack are surfacing.
“Tumitibay iyung ebidensya na may kaugnayan si Chairman Misuari dito,” he said.
‘VERY INVOLVED’
Aquino said is “very involved” in the operations to end the conflict. He said he gets regular updates from the ground, gives inputs for security operations, and ensures that agencies provide the needs of displaced residents.
He said even if he is in Zamboanga, he is in direct contact with several agencies, like the Bangko Sentral to ensure there is regular cash supply in the city, and the social welfare, trade, and agriculture departments to ensure that basic food supplies are available in Zamboanga as well as in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
The President reiterated that government agencies have been doing a good job in addressing the crisis, from the intelligence community and law enforcement units which are limiting the MNLF faction to a few areas, to the agencies in charge of evacuation operations. – With Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa.
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