A police officer looks at the body of a man who tried to grab the weapon of another officer September 23, 2013 in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines where security forces are fighting Moro National Liberation Front rebels. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Alvin Lardizabal)
A military vehicle inches it way to traffic September 23, 2013 in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines where security forces are fighting Moro National Liberation Front rebels. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Alvin Lardizabal)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 23, 2013) – Authorities captured a man after killing his companion who tried to grab Monday the weapon of a police officer guarding a village in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said the man was shot as he tried to escape from authorities in the village of Tetuan, where two projectiles also exploded at a resident area earlier in the day. His companion is still being interrogated, but a third accomplice managed to escape on a motorcycle.
Police investigators said they recovered several identification cards with different names from the slain man. It was not immediately known whether the dead man was a member of the Moro National Liberation Front that took part in simultaneous attacks in Zamboanga on September 9.
Sporadic fighting still continues between security and rebel forces in several villages here. The clashes now on its third week have killed and wounded more than 200 people since the violence began. More than 140 rebels also surrendered or captured by authorities.
Many rebels who surrendered or spoke to media claimed they had been deceived by the MNLF into joining the conflict. The rebels were allegedly told to go to Zamboanga to join a peace parade and were promised money.
Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said those arrested or captured were properly informed of their constitutional rights.
“Upon their arrest, they were subjected to proper medical examination and provided with appropriate food and day to day sustenance, in fact, in one instance, food intended for police personnel who were in the middle of fighting and whose food ration can no longer be given, were handed to the arrested MNLF members,” he said.
He said the arrested rebels were transferred to a penal farm in the village of San Ramon.
“The paramount consideration of the government in transferring the arrested MNLF rebels to the San Ramon Penal Farm is to protect and insure their welfare and to decongest them. To the family and friends of the arrested MNLF rebels, rest assured that they don’t have to worry of how the MNLF rebels will be treated, because everything will be done in accordance and in compliance with existing law and our government troops are fully aware of these,” Huesca said.
Huesca said Police Director General Alan Purisma earlier ordered ground commanders to observe “Police Operational Procedures” and to faithfully observe the rule of law; and uphold the rights of victims and all individuals, including criminals.
“Such that, in all police intervention operations, every PNP personnel shall, first and foremost, be mindful and considerate of the protection of every citizen’s honor, human rights and safety in the pursuit of its responsibility of law enforcement and mission accomplishment,” Huesca said. (Mindanao Examiner)
20