MNLF members, 'recruits' held for questioning in Zamboanga Peninsula
July 26, 2017 | 1:00pm
Martial law was declared in Mindanao on May 23. The state of martial law was initially extended to Dec.31, 2017 before the first 60-day period lapsed on July 22. AFP, File
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The police and military intercepted around 61 people believed to be recruits and members of the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City and in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on Tuesday morning.
Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 9, said a batch of 27 people were rounded up in an apartment on Daisy Road, Barangay Guiwan in Zamboanga City about 10:35 a.m. on Tuesday.
Galvez said the second batch was intercepted when their van was stopped a checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay Tiayon, Ipil an hour later.
Chief Inspector Arlan Delumpines, Police Station 5 commander, said the presence of the alleged MNLF recruits was discovered by a village councilor who had been alerted of the first batch in Barangay Guiwan.
Delumpines said the suspects, who are all from Basilan, turned out to be MNLF recruits. They were invited to the police station for questioning and profiling.
He said one of the recruits, identified as Isnirol Jikiron Mislohum, disclosed they were invited by a certain Abu Supian based in Jolo, Sulu to join the MNLF before they could be part of the Philippine Army.
It is unclear whether the so-called recruits broke any laws.
Also on Tuesday, soldiers from the Army's 102nd Infantry Brigade and Ipil town police intercepted 34 MNLF members from Sulu who were bound for Camp Jabari Nur in Madamba, Lanao del Sur.
Those intercepted in Ipil were brought to the headquarters of 102nd Brigade for further questioning.
Misuari's MNLF faction
MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari, who leads a faction of the MNLF based in Sulu, in May offered President Rodrigo Duterte 5,000 fighters to help in the campaign against Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists who have been laying siege to parts of Marawi City since May 23.
The Marawi crisis prompted Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.
“I am announcing to all forces of the MI, MN, if this conflict will take long and if you want to join, cast your lot with the Republic… I will take you in as soldiers, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas,” Duterte said then.
He also called on the NPA rebels to leave their leaders and join forces with the military in fighting the Islamic State terrorists.
“I am going to create a new division for you. Wala nang qualification, tutal marunong naman kayo mag-baril (no more qualifications, anyway you know how to shoot). Practice na lang kayo ng kalabit. I am willing to take you in as soldiers of the Republic,” Duterte also said.
Duterte initially accepted Misuari's offer, then dropped the idea, saying the time was not right.
The president's change in tone came after the Armed Forces of the Philippines said there was no protocol in place for the military to take in Misuari's men.
Misuari, who faces charges over the 2013 siege of Zamboanga City by his MNLF faction, is out on bail.
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