By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin declared that the clearing operations against the MNLF-Misuari
faction is now complete as the government forces had secured all hostages after
20 days of firefight.
In a flag ceremony last Saturday, inside the Western Mindanao Command (WISMINCOM)
honoring the fallen and wounded men in uniform, Sec. Gazmin said: “The primary
objective of the operation was for the safe recovery of the hostages. Security
forces have so far rescued 195 hostages. We believe we have accounted for all
of them.”
Gazmin also pointed to the massive loss from the MNLF-Misuari side.
“The operation resulted in the loss of an estimated 183 on the side of
the lawless elements and caused the surrender or capture of 292,” Gazmin
reported.
However, the government troops have also suffered losses from the
skirmishes.
“We grieve the loss of 23 AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP
(Philippine National Police) personnel, three of whom are AFP officials, and
the wounding of 183 others,” the defense chief said.
Gazmin said the second phase of the clearing operation would involve
house-to-house searches for booby traps, improvised explosive devices (IEDs),
firearms and other pertinent materials which the rebels might have left behind.
“This will be undertaken by the PNP, the local government officials, and
other concerned agencies to ensure that the operation is done properly,” Gazmin
said.
He also expects that the city government’s plan for rehabilitation and
reconstruction will come into action. He added that security forces will still
remain until everything is cleared.
The military has already started clearing operation with the checking of
the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) which was greatly affected by the war.
ZCMC chief of hospital Dr. Romeo Ong said the hospital immediately evacuated
472 patients on the second day of the crisis to the Western Mindanao State
University (WMSU) gymnasium, which was converted into a satellite hospital.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said the hospital would
be prioritized for clearing as “medical services are of the essence.”