adminThe Philippine president has called on the last rebels holding residents hostage in coastal communities in the south to surrender and prevent further bloodshed as a major offensive to end an 11-day standoff crawled towards an end.
More than 200 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels stormed five communities on the coastal outskirts of Zamboanga city on 9 September and took about 200 residents hostage. A ground, sea and air offensive by 4 500 soldiers and police has left about 40 fighters holding around 20 hostages, officials said.
Assault troops have calibrated their firepower to protect trapped civilians, slowing down an offensive by an overwhelming number of troops, the military said.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said yesterday that government forces were moving forward again and that the rebels were losing more ground. Three rebels fighters were killed in morning clashes and two government soldiers wounded, he said.
On Thursday, some of the gunmen set clusters of houses on fire in the hard-hit community of Sta. Catalina in an apparent effort to cover their escape, while 15 rebels, all looking famished and exhausted, emerged from a mangrove and surrendered, police said.
Despite the remaining hostilities, life has crept back to normal in the port city of nearly a million people, with its international airport reopening to two commercial flights from Manila after days of closure and many downtown shops resuming business.
A smiling President Benigno Aquino III, who has overseen the offensive since last week, went to Zamboanga’s airport to welcome the passengers. Facing reporters later, he said the rebels still had the option to surrender.
“Life is precious to me,” Aquino said, addressing the rebel holdouts. “You may want to consider your life precious as well.” — AP
Online Reporter