Gov't now open to using force to resolve Zamboanga crisis

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government is now open to using force to resolve the four-day crisis in southern city of Zamboanga.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said today state forces are ready to resolve the crisis in Zamboanga City where over 100 people were still being held hostage by the alleged followers of Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front ( MNLF).

"While the government is exhausting all avenues for a peaceful resolution to the situation, let it be clear to those defying us that they should not entertain the illusion that the state will hesitate to use its forces to protect our people," Lacierda said in a briefing.

He said that now it is time for Misuari's armed followers to cooperate to resolve the situation peacefully at the soonest possible time.

"As for others who seek to take advantage of the situation, you will fail," he stressed referring to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a splinter of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

He cited the encounter today between the government troops and the members of the BIFF and ASG who tried to attack Lamitan City in southern province of Basilan.

"The BIFF and ASG assumed they could take advantage of the situation. They were wrong. As others who will also make similar attempts will be proven wrong," he said, adding that the government troops were now pursing them.

Lacierda also urged the public, particularly those in southern Philippines, to just listen to the authorities who would give them the truth all the time, amid the rumors of abductions of religious leaders and firefights circulating through anonymous text messages.

The national government also appealed to those eyeing the coming village elections in October to set aside politics when all are busy ensuring the safety of the people in Zamboanga City.

According to other news, local business groups assured that the Zamboanga conflict won't hurt the country's key industries.

"Zamboanga is more or less 900 km away from Manila. Our major businesses are here and it will be geographically difficult to disrupt business transactions in major commercial cities like Manila, Cebu or even Davao City," said Management Association of the Philippines President Melito Salazar.

Foreign chambers of commerce have also declared similar observations during a recent briefing at the Asian Institute of Management.

John Forbes of the American Chamber Commerce said that the ongoing rife in Zamboanga will not have a ripple effect on major business decisions and business operations in the rest of the country.