Aquino declares Zamboanga City crisis over soon, jets for Manila

President Bengino Aquino III. EDWIN BACASMAS / INQUIRER

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III said on Sunday the crisis in Zamboanga City could be over, as he announced that charges would filed against Nur Misuari, the founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) whose men launched the attack two weeks ago.

Aquino left for Manila on Sunday afternoon on board a Lear jet.

“Patapos na malamang itong araw na ito lahat ng pangyayari dito (All events here will probably end today),” Aquino said in a hastily called press conference at the Philippine Air Force Edwin Andrew Airbase.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Emmanuel Bautista said in separate interviews at the air base after the Commander-in-Chief left that the conflict would only be over if government security forces cleared the villages of the MNLF fighters.

Gazmin, Bautista, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman remained in Zamboanga, as of Sunday.

“We are working doubly hard to finish the operations at the soonest possible time,” Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, the AFP spokesperson, said.

Zagala said the military information indicated that MNLF commander Habier Malik remained in the area, as of Sunday.

Troops are still engaged in combat with Malik and his men, Zagala said.