Misuari nephew, 35 MNLF fighters surrender after gunbattle in Zamboanga City

Moro National Liberation Front. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Thirty six members of the Moro National Liberation Front surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning in Zamboanga City, the military said.

The rebels surrendered after engaging government forces in a running gunbattle in Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina area around 10:30 a.m., acting public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc told reporters in a press briefing.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Andrew Bacala, deputy commander of Task Force Igsoon, identified two of those who surrendered as MNLF commanders Ener Misuari of Zamboanga Sibugay and Ustadz Ismael Dasta of Basilan.

Ener Misuari is reportedly a nephew of MNLF founder Nur Misuari.

The surrender, however, did not end the fighting.

Four MNLF fighters were killed in the firefight.

From the government side, one soldier was killed and one was wounded.

Cabunoc said the constriction area is small, and soldiers used public address loudspeakers to urge the remaining rebels to surrender.

He could not say whether MNLF leader Habier Malik was still in Zamboanga City. With a report from Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao