Sema's MNLF faction affirms support to 1996 peace deal

MANILA, Philippines - The faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by former Cotabato City vice mayor Muslimin Sema on Monday affirmed their support to the 1996 peade agreement forged between the group and the government in 1996.

“We continue to stand our commitment by the government-MNLF 1996 final peace agreement as we would also like to stress that we have nothing to do with the attack in Zamboanga launched by our comrades loyal to Chairman Nur,” said Romy Sema, head of the MNLF Executive Council of 15 (EC15) secretariat.

The group came out with the statement after the faction under former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Nur Misuari attacked at least three villages of Zamboanga City.

At least six people haven been reported killed and hundreds displaced due to the attacks.

The city has been virtually shut down as businesses and schools were shut down and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines declared the city a "no fly zone."

The MNLF EC15 was formed in 2001 by a group of MNLF leaders who turned away from Misuari, who was unseated from the regional governorship.

Reports said that the MNLF group that carried out the attack in the city was led by Haber Malik, a Moro commander identified with Misuari.