This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Hundreds of gunmen attacked the port city of Zamboanga on Monday morning in an attempt to disrupt peace talks between militant groups and Philippine government. The firefight between Philippine troops and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) gunmen killed six people.
“They were trying to march on the city hall and we cannot allow that,” military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala said of the gunmen.
The gunmen demanded an independent Mindanao, the southern third of the mainly Catholic nation. The attackers seem against the peace talks taking place between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). MILF and MNLF split ways decades ago. MILF is now willing to resume peace talks with the government while MNLF is trying to create an unpleasant environment.
According to Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, two Philippine security officers and four civilians were killed during the standoff. Zagala confirmed that 20 civilians have been taken hostage to be used as human shields. President Benigno Aquino has advised his senior security advisers to assist the forces to end violent.
“The authorities are responding to the situation in a manner that will reduce the risk to innocent civilians and restore peace and order to Zamboanga City at the soonest possible time,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
On the other hand, MNLF spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanilla has allegedly confirmed deploying its forces in the port city. Fontanilla corrected the army’s claim about a break-away MNLF group has attacked the city.
“We just want to correct the statement of the (military). It is not a break-away group. It is the main group of Chairman Nur Misuari group,” Fontanilla said.
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