By Teofilo P. Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, (PNA) — Government security forces have arrested two persons, including a Malaysian national and a suspected Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebel, when they raided the residence of MNLF founding-chair Nur Misuari in this city.
The raid was carried out around 4 a.m. Friday in Sitio Pasay, Barangay San Roque, six kilometers west of City Hall, “as part of the legal offensive” aimed to gather more evidence against Misuari.
The police have filed on Thursday a criminal complaint of rebellion and violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) against Misuari for his alleged involvement in the three-week standoff in this city.
Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca disclosed the Malaysian national and the MNLF member were arrested outside but in the vicinity of Misuari’s compound.
Huesca disclosed the duo were sighted near Misuari’s compound while policemen backed by soldiers conducted the search inside the compound.
“They were seen going around in the vicinity and they become restless when the policemen approached them,” Huesca said, citing they were placed under investigation.
Huesca said the raiding team has also recovered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components, Monotom Bombs, ammunition of Mortar, MNLF subversive documents, maps and tarpauline of MNLFs and of other personalities.