VP Binay says Zambo ceasefire in effect but fighting continues

Published September 13, 2013 11:46pm

(Updated 8:07 a.m. - Sept. 14.) Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and former MNLF chairman Nur Misuari have agreed on a ceasefire in Zamboanga City that took effect 12:00 a.m. Saturday, Vice President Jejomar Binay told GMA News shortly before Friday midnight.

But residents continued hearing gunfire through the night, and at 2:12 a.m. the Zamboanga City government tweeted that "Police Operations Division says no order of a ceasefire."

Binay said on GMA's late night newscast "Saksi" that he will fly to Zamboanga City on Saturday to work out the details of the truce and and see to its implementation.

The ceasefire comes after five straight days of gun battles between government security forces and Moro National Liberation Front members believed to be part of the faction Misuari leads. Misuari himself has not issued a public statement or appeared in public.

Early Saturday morning, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said at least 52 have been killed, including four civilians.

He said the fatalities as of Saturday morning included five police/military personnel, 43 MNLF members, four civilians. At least 46 government forces were wounded in action, he added. 20 civilians caught in the crossfire were wounded.

"Meron tayong nalagasan (na) kunektado sa ongoing operations. (But) rest assured kahit meron tayong ganitong nalagasan we will press the fight para maprotektahan ang civilians (We have suffered casualties due to the ongoing operations. But rest assured we will press the fight to protect civilians)," he said in an interview with reporters in Zamboanga City, parts of which were aired on dzBB radio early Saturday.

Zagala also said at least 19 MNLF members have surrendered or have been captured so far.

Some 24,000 Zamboanga City residents have fled the fighting.

Truce?

The truce Binay announced Friday night gave hope to Zamboanga residents that their niughtmare would end. The city has been paralyzed, with ATMs out of cash and gas stations out of fuel; food is running out. Sea and air transport in and out of the city has been suspended.

However, police operations against the Moro National Liberation Front continued in Zamboanga City before dawn Saturday, the city government said.

In posts on its Twitter account, the city government said its police operations division said there was no order of a ceasefire.

"Police Operations Division says no order of a ceasefire. For your information and guidance," it said in its tweet at 2:12 a.m.

It added police reported operations were being held within Lustre and Sta. Barbara.

"No casualties, released hostages," it said, but did not elaborate.

Police says operations now happening within Lustre and Sta. Barbara. Negative in other affected barangays. No casualties, released hostages
— zambocitygovt (@zambocitygovt) September 13, 2013

AFP on lookout for MNLF mixing with civilians

Meanwhile, government troops in Zamboanga City are on the lookout for Moro National Liberation Front members who may mingle with civilians moving out of MNLF-infiltrated areas there, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

AFP public affairs head Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said troops are inspecting people moving out of the affected areas.

The spokesman of the AFP is not discounting the possibility that MNLF members may try to get food and supplies, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported.

On Friday afternoon, Zagala said at least 22 had so far been killed in the fighting between government and MNLF forces since Monday.

The MNLF forces had taken civilian hostages in some neighborhoods in the city, which had declared a curfew. — ELR/HS, GMA News

Tags: zamboangacity, jejomarbinay, vpbinay