MANILA, (PNA) — With the stand-off between the military and rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members now on its seventh day, the Zamboanga City Government announced that it will not be issuing any permits for rallies or mass action during this time.
“The City Government has not and will not issue permits for rallies or mass actions amidst these critical times,” it said on its Twitter account.
“This is for the safety, protection of our people and to prevent infiltration or sabotage by enemies of the state,” it further said.
Zamboanga Mayor Isabelle “Beng” Climaco-Salazar earlier urged her constituents to remain united and strong.
“In this time of crisis, I call on all our people to remain united and strong. Our faith as a people is unshakeable. This is not an issue of religion for we have co-existed peacefully and worked harmoniously,” she added.
Climaco-Salazar also called the attack against her city an act of misguided people.
“This is an issue of people with misguided principles using arms to propel their ideology. This conflict has shown how galvanized and united we are as a city. Together we can rise up from this climate of fear and doubt and come out better Zamboanguenos and a more peaceful Zamboanga that we all hope for,” she stressed.