| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Zamboanga City on alert for insurgents |
| 2009-10-05 |
| Authorities are on heightened alert in Zamboanga City following the fighting between troops and rebels in Sulu province. Zamboanga City, which had been previously bombed by Abu Sayyaf, is currently celebrating the weeklong Hermosa Festival in honor of the Virgin Mary locally known as “Our Lady of the Pilar,” its patron saint. A regional military commander, Marine Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, said they would launch Monday a new “hotline” that would allow citizens to send text messages from their cell phones or inform authorities about suspicious persons or information that could prevent terrorism. “We are going to launch this on Monday so citizens can easily and quickly provide information through SMS [short message system] from their cell phones,” Dolorfino said. Besides the new hotline number, police also have telephone numbers 166 and 117 posted in many areas in Zamboanga City where citizens can call at anytime in case of an emergency similar to 911 in the United States. Government forces are battling Moro rebels since last month in the province and had already killed at least 45 gunmen and soldiers, including two members of the US Special Forces. The Bangsamoro National Liberation Army (BNLA) warned of more attacks against the military and civilian targets in the Philippines in retaliation to the continued government offensive against rebels in Sulu. The shadowy group, an ally of the Moro National Liberation Front, has claimed responsibility for the September 29 roadside bombing in Sulu that killed US soldiers Sergeant First Class Christopher Shaw and Staff Sergeant Jack Martin 3rd. Madarang Sali, BNLA deputy supreme commander, rebel forces have declared a holy war against the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine government. He said the BNLA is headed by Lt. Gen. Abdulnasser Iskandar, while the Moro National Liberation Front are under the command of Ustadz Habier Malik, Khaid Ajibun and Tahil Usman. Sali said only 10 MNLF rebels were killed in the fighting—seven under Malik and three more under the command of Ajibun. Dolorfino said troops were tracking down at least four most senior Abu Sayyaf leaders—Dr Abu, Albader Parad, Isnilon Hapilon and Yasser Igasan—including two foreign Jemaah Islamiah terrorists Mauiya and Quayem and some 200 followers. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #1 The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-10-05 14:16 |