AFP warns of new MNLF attacks

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec 16 (ZNS) – The military has warned of  possible new attacks against the city by the Moro Liberation Front (MNLF) following their defeat after a 23 day siege of Zamboanga starting Sept 9 to end of that month.

“This new attack threat is consistent” said Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) Commander Col. Andrelino Colina.

While the Sept 9 attack and occupation of the shoreline barangays of Mariki, Rio Hondo, Sta. Barbara , Sta. Catalina and Kasangayan was reportedly to march to city hall and raise the MNLF flag there to be  followed by a declaration of Independence for Mindanao, the rumored new attacks partake of a different purpose.

Col. Colina said the possibility is there that the MNLF “will try to rescue” their some266 MNLF comrades  who were captured or surrendered to the authorities in the course of their 9/9 attacks in this city  last September.

These MNLFs have already been charged in court for various crimes relating to their attack in the city resulting to the death of hundreds of civilians soldiers and policemen.

City Jail Warden Chief Inspector Julius P. Arro declined to name the date or mode of transport of these MNLF detainees from Zamboanga for security reasons although he said preparations have been made.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initially approved the confinement of most of the MNLF rebels at the San Ramon Facility considering the fact that the city jail  of the Bureau of Management and Penology (BJMP) is already overcrowded with some 1,000 regular detainees facing trial in local courts.

Excluded from the transfer order are six female suspected members of the MNLF and 3 minors that are under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Arro said the justice department has also approved last Oct 17  the transfer of these MNLF detainees in this city presently lodged at the city jail and  the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm of the Bureau of Corrections (BOCor) at barangay Talisayan some 25 kilometers west of the city proper and about 15 kilometer from the municipality of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

There are packets of MNLF groups in Sibuco and other parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

In fact, the police arrested a uniformed MNLF rebel near Talisayan a month ago, although he was later released because he was unarmed.

The Crisis Management Committee (CMC) led by City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and the city city council have both called for the transfer of these MNLF detainees to any detention center outside the city, preferably in Bicutan, Taguig City, where similar rebels including those of the extremists Abu Sayyaf are detained.

The penitentiary located along the shorelines is accessible by watercraft from MNLF camps in the Zamboanga peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and even Tawi-Tawi.

Last August, Col Colina downplayed reports of a possible attack against Zamboanga after MNLF chairman Nur Misuari declared the independence of Mindanao in Sulu.

At that time, Colina reasoned out that the possibility of an attack was nil because a big number of MNLF leader and their followers are already residing in Zamboanga, including Misuari himself.

On this new threat, he said the reports his command receive is consistent.

The MNLFs can only rescue or free their companions while they are still in this city and not when they are already in Taguig

Beside, the rebels have no qualms about rescuing their companions detained in government jails.

Last week, some 40 armed rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked the police headquarters in Marawi city to free their two detained companions there. They also took hostage the chief of police of that Marawi jail, releasing him only Friday afternoon.

On several occasions, the MNLFs have also attacked jails in Basilan to free their companions or members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf lodged in these detention facilities in the province. (Felino M Santos)