Philippine soldiers, wearing gas masks, look at bodies believed to be Muslim rebels next to destroyed houses,at the site of heavy fighting during the stand-off between government forces and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels in Santa Catalina area of Zamboanga City, on southern island of Mindanao on September 26, 2013. AFP
MANILA, Philippines–Fifteen more members of the Moro National Liberation Front were killed in fighting with government troops since Thursday night in Zamboanga City, the military said.
Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, military spokesman, said on Friday that the rebels were killed in an encounter within the “constriction area”– the conflict zones in the villages of Sta. Barbara and Sta. Catalina.
There were still no signs of MNLF leader Habier Malik as the gunbattle entered its 19th day on Friday, Zagala said.
In Manila, acting public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said they have reports that the MNLF leader was still within the conflict zone.
He added that they were still validating reports that Malik was wounded from the clashes, based on the accounts of one of his comrades and the hostages.
“No soldiers have seen it and we would like to validate reports that his hand was slightly wounded in one of the series of encounters in Sta. Catalina,” he said.
“But it has to be proven,” he added.
Cabunoc also defended the military estimates on MNLF figures, saying the group of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari had no “roster of troops” and stressed that what was important was that they were able to “constrict” them in one area.
In the start of the siege on Sept. 9, the military claimed that there were between 200 to 300 MNLF rebels that attacked Zamboanga. As of Thursday afternoon, there were nearly 400 MNLF killed, surrendered and captured. He no longer gave an estimate as to how many MNLF they were still engaging with.
On Wednesday, Cabunoc said that they were still engaging with up to ten MNLF members. But on Thursday, at least 40 MNLF were captured by authorities.
As of Friday noon, there were at least a hundred killed: 100 MNLF, 23 police and military, and nine civilians. Over 200 were wounded.
Even so, Cabunoc maintained that the crisis will be over soon.