By Priam F. Nepomuceno
MANILA, (PNA) — Despite the pronouncements of midnight ceasefire by Vice President Jejomar Binay, gunfire and explosion are still being heard in Zamboanga City, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Saturday.
Gazmin added that the ceasefire will not take effect if Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters woould not stop firing at government forces securing Zamboanga City.
“Right now there is still fighting going on, so there is no ceasefire. That means the other side is not keeping its end of the bargain,” he said in a radio interview.
Gazmin said Binay had called him up Friday night and said he can “reach out” to MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari.
He added that the Vice President then asked him if he would have no objections to a ceasefire.
“I told Binay all of us want peace. He said he can talk to Misuari. I said government troops will stop firing only if the MNLF stops firing,” the DND chief.
“We said our forces will not fire if the MNLF stops firing,” he added.