Malacanang reiterates President Aquino's
instructions to take care of evacuees affected by ongoing standoff between
government forces and MILF-Misuari faction in Zamboanga City
Malacanang said on Sunday that the government is
working towards following the instructions of President Benigno S. Aquino III
to “take care” of the evacuees affected by the standoff between law enforcers
and members of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari faction that has
entered its seventh day today, in Zamboanga City.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the Department of Social Welfare and Development was in the thick of
preparing the necessary supplies like tents, sleeping bags, mattresses,
clothes, temporary shelter and food that will be distributed to the evacuees as
government troops move to contain and constrict the movement of the “armed men
of the Misuari faction.”
“Ang continuing instructions ng Pangulo is to
take care of the evacuees lalo na yung mga lumilikas sa mga apektadong
barangay. We continue to take care of their needs at salamat doon sa mga
tumutulong na galing sa Zamboanga City,” Valte said.
“Doon naman sa mga apektadong Barangay, patuloy
yung pagkilos ng ating mga sundalo’t kapulisan para siguraduhin na hindi
madadamay at hindi masasaktan ang mga kababayan natin doon. Ang operative natin
dito is that we continue to contain and we continue to restrict the movement of
the armed men of the Misuari faction,” she added.
She said the President was still in Zamboanga
City to personally oversee operations against the Misuari group and was unsure
when the Chief Executive would return to Manila. PND (rck)
Palace moves allays concerns of international
community on standoff ongoing in Zamboanga City
Malacanang allayed the concerns of the international
community on the ongoing conflict between government troops and the members of
the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari faction in Zamboanga City, saying
the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III was doing everything in
its power to end the standoff peacefully and expeditiously.
The Indonesian government, through its Foreign
Minister Marty Natalegawa, expressed concern over the recent developments in
the ongoing armed conflict in Zamboanga City.
In a press briefing aired over state-run radio
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte also
appealed for calm and understanding as the government addresses the standoff.
“Ginagawa ho natin lahat ng makakaya natin sa
panahong ito para lutasin nga ang sitwasyon sa Zamboanga City,” Valte said.
She pointed out that government troops had to
exercise caution and move in a “calibrated” manner as hostages were involved in
the standoff.
“Alam naman po din natin ‘yung mga komplikasyon
dahil meron silang mga binihag na mga kababayan natin, kaya unti-unti at very
calibrated ang galaw ng ating mga security forces doon, para siguraduhing hindi
naman madamay o malagay sa panganib ang
iba pang mga kasamahan natin doon,” Valte said.
PND (rck)
