Aquino: Gov’t has ‘overwhelming’ forces to deal with Zamboanga standoff

President Benigno Aquino III    INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said that the government has “overwhelming” number of forces to deal with the standoff against members of the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City.

“Yesterday [Monday], (we have) adequate (number of troops), today I think we have overwhelming (forces). We are airflifting a lot of troops, including our most elite forces, and there is Zamboanga City. What I understand is that the situation is calm,” he told reporters in a press briefing after the 7th Asean Navy Chiefs Meeting at Raffles Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

(“Kahapon adequate, ngayon palagay ko overwhelming na. Marami tayong ini-air lift na mga tropa, kasama na ang ating mga pinakaelite na forces, at nandiyan ang Zamboanga City. Ang pagintindi ko medyo kalmado ang sitwasyon.”)

He also said that at this time, he did not see the need to declare the state of emergency in the province.

He emphasized that the priority of the government was to ensure the safety of the citizens of Zamboanga City.

“This morning, I spoke with Secretary [Manuel] Mar Roxas and he has been updating me. We don’t expect that there will be new tensions today,” he said.

Meanwhile, for its the part, the Philippine Navy sent seven ships to serve as naval blockade to prevent MNLF from reinforcing their troops already occupying five coastal villages in Zamboanga City, Navy spokesman Commander Gregory Fabic told reporters in an ambush interview.

Three hundred Marine forces and four teams of the elite Naval Special Operations Group, or the Navy Seals will be airlifted to Zamboanga City.

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