AFP: NO CEASEFIRE WITH MNLF FIGHTERS
Manila, 6 Zul-qaadah 1434/11 September 2013 (MINA) – The Armed Forces Philippines (AFP) announced there is no ceasefire with between the army and fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
The announcement was released Wednesday enter the third day of the stand-off between the military and rogue members of MNLF, despite orders to its troops to stand down in order allow the civilian negotiating team to resolve the crisis peacefully.
“AFP (is) standing down to allow crisis management committee to make necessary moves to resolve/negotiate peacefully,” AFP public information office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
He also belied reports that a formal ceasefire has been declared with the MNLF, Philippines News Agency (PNA) quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“There is no formal ceasefire contrary to some reports,” Zagala said.
As to the MNLF’s call for a military pullout from Zamboanga City, he said it is the latter that should leave first.
“They were the ones who attacked,” he said.
Troops in the Philippines have surrounded six villages in the south of the country where hundreds of fighters linked to MNLF are holding at least 170 hostages.
Fresh fighting was reported on Tuesday as six military tanks went into the area.
The standoff began a day earlier after MNLF fighters marched into Zamboanga Cty to raise their flag at a city hall, Zagala said.
“Local media say the fighters have issued two demands.They want to be allowed to walk with their hostages towards the Zamboanga City Hall so they can hoist the MNLF flag,” Ted Regencia said, a journalist reporting from the Philippines.
“They are also demanding for government troops not to fire at them and let them keep their hostages [but] Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco has rejected both demands.”
Claire Jose, a regional health officer in Zamboanga City, told Al Jazeera that the city looked like a “ghost town” because of a widespread shutdown. (T/P09/E1).
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
