MANILA, (PNA) — Rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has released six hostages, five of them children, during the second day of standoff with government troops in Zamboanga City.
All the hostages are from Barangay Talon-Talon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced.
All of the captives were released around 8:30 a.m.
“As of 8:30 a.m., five children and one adult were released in Barangay Talon-Talon. MNLF Misuari group in the said barangay (is) requesting for water and bread,” the AFP said in its Twitter account.
The MNLF had taken more than 200 people hostage in Zamboanga City on Monday.
Sporadic exchanges of gunfire marked the second day of the crisis early Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the AFP said Brig. Gen. Felicito Trinidad, commander of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division, designated overall military ground commander in the Zamboanga City standoff.