MANILA, (PNA) — With the hostage crisis in Zamboanga City now on its second day, Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopters early Tuesday morning fly over Barangay Sta. Barbara, one of the villages where rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members are holed up.
It was still unclear why the choppers flew over the above-mentioned area, radio reports said.
Sporadic exchanges of gunfire were also noted between the cordoning government troops and the MNLF.
Meanwhile, the Zamboanga City government, in a post on its Twitter account before dawn Tuesday, said there was “no movement on the ground” as of 2:28 a.m.
PNP UPDATE
No movement on the ground. No firefight. Authorities remain on alert. Police in place in key areas,” it said.
The Zamboanga city government reminded the public not to spread unverified text messages about the situation there.
It urged them to refer to authorities all peace and security concerns via hotlines 117 and 166, or to the police operations division at 0906-368-0749.
“The public is advised to refrain from spreading unverified text messages to prevent confusion and panic,” it added.
Four people were killed in clashes between the government and MNLF on Monday. The MNLF has engaged government in a standoff by taking at least 20 hostages at a village.