ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 17, 2013) – Philippine officials on Tuesday said some 145 hostages have been either been freed by rebels or rescued by soldiers as skirmishes continue for eight straight days now.
Officials said the hostages had been were taken by security forces to a police base for processing and eventually interrogated them. The recovery of the hostages came after a brief lull in the fighting in Santa Barbara and Santa Catalina villages.
The fighting erupted after hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front rebels led by Ustadz Haber Malik occupied several villages on September 9 and seized over 180 civilians and use them as shield. Police said over 100 rebels had been killed and arrested and that security forces recovered assorted MNLF weapons that included a Barrett sniper rifle and a machine gun.
A stray bullet had killed a two-year old child. Police said the child was hit in the head by the stray bullet during the gun exchange between the government and rebel forces. No other details were released by the police about the victim, but four other civilians were also killed and dozens more injured in the clashes.
Freed Hostages
Councilman Benjamin Guingona IV, who is tasked to receive the hostages, said after the hostages are rescued or released, they are immediately given food, clothing, and medical assistance. “Upon verification, their family members are contacted. Their names are also released to the public with their consent. If family members cannot be contacted, they are housed and cared for by the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” he said.
Guingona released the list of the names of the victims: 1. Mary Jean Gerolaga, 2. Mercedita Hasinun, 3.Norisma Hasinun, 4. Yudith Hasinun, 5. Aira Hasinun, 6. Binsal Hasinun, 7. Fr. Michael Ufana, 8. Ereneo Gerolaga, 9. Ronelo Nagar, 10. Rodelio Tolorio, 11. Warren Simyunn, 12. Oswaldo Mariano, 13. Josephine Simyunn, 14. Monico Dales, 15. Reymundo Cepada (+), 16. Frederick Fernandez, 17. Noah Kent Mojica, 18. Michelle Candido, 19. Jeomi Ando (+), 20. Aireen Lumiton, 21. Aira Mae Lumiton, 22. Narciso Lumiton Jr., 23. Meldy Tabios, 24. Lyka Tabios, 25. Nica Tabios, 26. Benjamin Leonardo, 27. Leonardo Cledona, 28. Ednemark Confessor, 29. Klevan Presno, 30. Clemente Almonte II, 31. Arnel Ybiosa Renacia, 32. David Nifras, 33. Russ Angeles, 34. Daniel Ramos, 35. Isidro Ufana, 36. Madelyn Ufana, 37. Akia Rain Aniῆon, 38. Pilar Ramos, 39. Limuel Agacita, 40. John Paul Planteras, 41. Judith Arnado, 42. Miguel Delos Reyes, 43. Jake Louie Barcero, 44. Aerbert Dagohoy, 45. Elsie Romo, 46. Dante Dales, 47. Rostica Dales, 48. Ricky Cabangon, Jr., 49. Momar Javier, 50. Harold Jay Atilano.
And 51. Jeffrey Illore Baricua, 52. Boyet Torres, 53. Juana Cepada, 54. Reyneil Olis, 55. Glorifaith De Leon, 56. Analyn Dela Peῆa, 57. Mark Vincent Luspo, 58. Densteve Empuesto, 59. Christina Mendoza, 60. Darrell Empuesto, 61. Vincent Cartegenas, 62. James Ryan Vencer, 63. Ryan Jay Espinueva, 64. Nonito Estrada, 65. Noel Pagotaisidro, 66. Romeo Decipolo, 67. Janil Uran, 68. Joel Mueblas, 69. Christy Patta, 70. Judy May Arjona, 71. Kathy Olavides, 72. Rosauro Peralta, 73. Maricel Tevez, 74. Sonny Boy Dela Cruz, 75. Alicia Flores, 76. Roderick Teodoro, 77. Eleanor Baricua, 78. John Roferd Paculanan, 79. Danna May Sanson, 80. Marilou Merjuar, 81. Roel Gregana, 82. Rachel Geronimo, 83. Peter Galvez, 84. Rachel Piedad, 85. Vergel Pelias, 86. Lordan Sanson, 87. Evelyn Peralta, 88. Fe Decipulo, 89. Carlos Tupaz, 90. Marie Jane Macaso, 91. Desideria Geronimo, 92. Miguel Guevara, 93. Victor Merjuar, 94. Grace Alegado, 95. Precsiano Abing, 96. Maximo Velasquez, 97. Jacinto Quitong, 98. Kyle Yuen Geronimo, 99. Ceasar Geronimo, 100. Alejandro Lahami, Jr., 101. Lolita Dinapilis, 102. Allan Olavides, 103. Charmaine Simyunn, 104. Monica Limen, 105. Caridad Delgado, 106. Adelina Rivera, 107. Vicente Balaoro, 108. Maribel Ramos, 109. Antonette Ramos.
And 110. James Retubale, 111. Niel Aban, 112. Kim Oliveros, 113. Miguel Delgado, 114. Alan Pardo, 115. Ricardo Salcedo, 116. Danilo Flores, 117. Gilbert Makig-anay, 118.Ram-Ram Mahusan, 119. Cristopher Romano, 120. Jerome Delica, 121. Veronica Jean Arjoha, 122. Jose Balaoro, 124. Albert Balbaguio, 125. Araceli Andico, 126. Antolit Reyes, 127. Ronel Piedad, 128. Analie Del Mundo, 129. Mark Donaldo Sim Pang, 130. Raisheii Mae Evangelio, 131. Jose Garcia, 132. Jay Ar Sanson, 134. Nerica Limen, 135. Rey Romero, 136. Micheal Pesito, 137. Cherryl Belarmino, 138. Mark Leo Palma, 139. Katerina Olivides, 140. JC Mark Van Salatan, 141. Norvin Dumalagan, 142. Marvin Bacalso, 143. Jayson Dindin, 144. Rolando Tuden, Jr, and 145. Khan Michael Sanson.
Ryan Jay Espinueva, one of the victims, said the rebels who worried about their safety from continued military assault, have decided to release them. “They wanted us to transfer to a safer area because of the assault, but we declined and so they decided to free us. They helped us to escape to safety,” he said.
He said they survived the ordeal by moving from one house to another and that rebels were breaking into convenience stores to get food and feed the hostages. “They treated us well,” he said.
The violence has forced over 80,000 people fleeing their homes for fear they would be caught in the crossfire or taken captive by rebels. The number of refugees had resulted in a humanitarian crisis and food supply is not enough to feed the evacuees now housed in temporary shelters.
MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari, who signed a peace accord with Manila in 1996, accused the Aquino government of reneging on the peal deal and launched a new rebellion, the second in more than a decade. In 2001, loyal forces of Misuari also attacked military bases in Zamboanga City and Jolo town in Sulu province and the clashes killed over 100 people. (Mindanao Examiner)
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