ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 16, 2013) – Security forces have recovered at least 60 hostages freed late Monday by Moro National Liberation Front rebels in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.
The hostages were reportedly freed in two batches and were taken to a police base where they would be processed and eventually interrogated to determine if they are really civilians and not rebels posing as captives.
The recovery of the hostages came after a brief lull in the fighting in Santa Barbara and Santa Catalina villages.
The first batch of freed hostages numbered 26 and the second batch was over 30, according to a report by a local radio network dxRZ Radyo Agong.
Councilman Benjamin Guingona IV said authorities have processed 36 former captives, that included children and women and students.
He released the names of 34 victims as Isidro Ufana, Madelyn Ufana, Akia Rain Aninon, Pilar Ramos, Limuel Agacita, John Paul Planteras, Judith Arnado, Miguel Delos Reyes, Jake Louie Barcero, Aerbert Dagohoy, Elsie Romo, Dante Dales, Rostica Dales, Ricky Cabangon, Jr., Momar Javier, Harold Jay Atilano, Jeffrey Baricua, Boyet Torres, Juana Cepada, Reyneil Olis, Glorifaith De Leon,Analyn Dela Pena, Mark Vincent Luspo, Densteve Empuesto, Christina Mendoza, Darrell Empuesto, Vincent Cartegenas, James Ryan Vencer, Ryan Jay Espinueva, Nonito Estrada, Noel Pagotaisidro, Romeo Decipolo, Janil Uran and Joel Mueblas.
“Two other hostages requested for their names not to be published,” Guingona said.
He said they cannot release photos of the hostages to the press citing security concerns, but the faces of the victims, including a child, were already shown on national television news as they were being escorted to the police base.
“I am sorry, for security reasons, we only release names,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar has confirmed the recovery of the hostages and said “a total of 36 hostages freed tonight and are now in the custody of our authorities.”
Hundreds of rebels, fighting for independence, occupied several villages September 9 and took over 180 civilians and use them as shield against thousands of troops battling the MNLF under Nur Misuari, who signed a peace accord with Manila in 1996.
But Misuari 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.
Two MG-520 helicopters on Monday fired rockets on MNLF targets in the villages of Santa Barbara and Santa Catalina to allow troops and armoured vehicles to advance in areas held by rebels led by Ustadz Haber Malik, a trusted lieutenant of Misuari. (Mindanao Examiner)
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