27 bodies, 165 unexploded bombs recovered in Zamboanga clearing ops

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. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – At least 27 bodies and 165 various unexploded ordnances have been recovered during clearing operations in Zamboanga City since Sunday, the military said.

Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala told reporters Wednesday that the recovered bodies and firearms from the three-week gunbattle between the government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front were processed for investigation.

He could not say whether the bodies were from the MNLF or were civilians.

The recovered firearms, meanwhile, were from the remnants of the MNLF.

The Philippine National Police had taken over the lead in the law enforcement operations in the city with the military offering support. Even so, Zagala said their troops would remain there.

“This is a continuing process as we render the area safe,” he said.

“We are prioritizing the [the clearing operations in] areas that are near government installations so we can return government services back. Like yesterday the Zamboanga City Medical Center was turned over, the Southern City Colleges was also turned over. Areas that are near government buildings are also being examined,” he said.

He also said that he could not categorically say that the city was already peaceful, as the area was wide and there were a lot of areas that the MNLF stragglers could hide.

There are three brigade size of soldiers, or 4,000 soldiers deployed in the war-torn city.

On Wednesday afternoon, over 200 troops from the Joint Special Operations Group, the military’s main effort to engage the MNLF, that were deployed in Zamboanga returned to Manila. A reserve unit of the same size replaced them there.