Gov’t troops capture MNLF's Lustre Street stronghold

Government troops on Tuesday captured a heavily fought over Moro National Liberation Front stronghold in Zamboanga City, from which MNLF gunmen fought off armored vehicles and exchanged hails of gunfire with soldiers.

Philippine Armed Forces units took control of the KGK Building along R. Lustre Street, which was believed to be the base where MNLF leader Ustadz Habier Malik fought government forces, Ian Cruz reported on GMA’s “24 Oras.”

The shot-up building was empty, with not even bodies of slain or wounded MNLF fighters found.

However, discarded MNLF uniforms were found, leading to the belief that gunmen may have blended in with freed hostages.

Some 100 rebels and 40 hostages were said to have taken refuge in the KGK Building since Monday last week, when rebel forces started to attack some parts of the city.



Firing continues

On Tuesday afternoon, Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said that some 70 percent of the rebels’ previously occupied areas were under government control.

Despite the advances, sporadic firing could still be heard around the city, with most of the shooting concentrated in five barangays that used to serve as rebels’ strongholds: Santa Catalina, Santa Barbara, Rio Hondo, Talon-Talon, and Mariki.

Firefights were also reported in Barangay Mampang, an area far from the city proper. An army spokesman said that MNLF members were fleeing from the city, heading for outlying islands.

"Our forces continue to press on and push them out of the city... We will finish this problem at the soonest possible time," Armed forces spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala said.

Around 200 to 300 MNLF gunmen entered the city on September 9 reportedly to hoist their flag at the city hall. Government troops then engaged the MNLF fighters, who allegedly took hostages whom they used as human shields.

On Tuesday, the military had rescued some 123 hostages with 64 rebels either surrendered or captured. On the government side, six soldiers and three police officers were killed while 98 were hurt.

The clashes also left seven civilians dead and 36 others wounded. Tens of thousands of evacuees have fled their homes and sought temporary shelter at evacuation centers. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/DVM GMA News