This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Government troops claim to have reoccupied almost 70 percent of the land in Zamboanga since the militants launched an attack over a week ago. More than 100 people have lost their lives in a combat between Moro National Liberation Front gunmen and Philippine troops.
Military spokesman Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan said in a press briefing on Wednesday that at least 75 MNLF fighters are still present in Zamboanga, but most of the city has been recaptured. In the meanwhile, 2,300 Filipino and U.S. soldiers will hold joint exercises in the northern Philippines.
President Aquino is facing undue pressure to resolve the conflict in Zamboanga, either through force or through talks. The standoff has put off a major effort to reinstate peace by carrying a dialogue with the members of MILF. The conflict of interest between MILF and Philippines government has caused several problems during the last four decades. Now, when both sides have shown interest to find a common ground between them, MNLF has intervened to cause disruptions in the process.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda has confirmed that the government might bring charges against gunmen who have kept hundreds of innocent people hostage and caused serious threat to the government. During the standoff, over 93,000 people have fled their homes.
“There will always be the aftermath of the clashes even if you kill a lot of the MNLF forces. This will always rear its ugly head down the line,” said Prospero de Vera, a public administration professor at the University of the Philippines.
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