MANILA, (PNA) — With the third day of the stand-off between the military and rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front, the Armed Forces (MNLF) of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday announced there is no ceasefire with the MNLF despite orders to its troops to stand down in order allow the civilian negotiating team to resolve the crisis peacefully.
“AFP (is) standing down to allow crisis management committee to make necessary moves to resolve/negotiate peacefully,” AFP public information office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
He also belied reports that a formal ceasefire has been declared with the MNLF.
“There is no formal ceasefire contrary to some reports,” Zagala said.
As to the MNLF’s call for a military pullout from Zamboanga City, he said it is the latter that should leave first.
“They were the ones who attacked,” he said.