MNLF holds on to hostages amid standoff

Villagers flee as soldiers guard to secure the area following a clash between a Philippine navy patrol and suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels aboard several boats off Zamboanga city in southern Philippines Monday, Sept. 9, 2013. The Muslim rebels stormed the key coastal southern city and took more than a dozen hostages, officials said. AP

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — About 200 armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front are holding scores of hostages as human shields in a high-profile standoff with government forces that has dragged on for the second day.

More battle-ready troops and police were flown Tuesday to the southern port city of Zamboanga in a bid to end the crisis. The troops have surrounded the  MNLF gunmen and their hostages in four coastal villages since the crisis erupted Monday.

President Benigno Aquino III said the top priority was to ensure the safety of the hostages and Zamboanga residents.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said a crisis committee led by Zamboanga city Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco was open to negotiating with the guerrillas for the safe and unconditional release of the hostages.