PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III ruled out on Tuesday the declaration of a state of emergency in Zamboanga City despite the tensions there due to the presence of the alleged armed followers of Nur Misuari.
In an interview following his attendance to the 7th Asean Navy Chiefs Meeting in Makati City, Aquino said that if there were "adequate" forces there when the siege started on Monday, now there were already "overwhelming" troops deployed in Zamboanga City.
"We have airlifted lots of troops, including the most elite forces, in Zamboanga City. My understanding is that the situation there was a bit calm," he said, stressing that the government's priority was to ensure that the civilian population would not be affected.
He said that the crisis management council has been activated and Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has been hands-on.
He added that Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who flew on Monday to Zamboanga City, has been giving him updates of the situation there.
Asked if there was a need to declare a state of emergency in the tension-gripped city, the Chief Executive said, "At this time, there is none."
The President said that he would not also give a deadline to resolve the conflict.
"It's not possible to give a deadline if our objective is to ensure that nobody from the civilians would be hurt or killed," he said.
He added that it would be up to the tactical commanders on the ground to come up with any tactical decisions to end the hostilities.
Meanwhile, the President said that the Department of Justice continues to gather evidence against Misuari so that charges could be filed against him.
He admitted that currently, the government has no sufficient evidence yet against the MNLF leader.
"There was purported declaration of Nur Misuari's declaration of independence. (But) the problem is only the spokesmen were talking about the supposed meeting where he (Misuari) reportedly declared independence," he said.
In the Zamboanga incident, he also said that there was no categorical statement from Misuari that he was the one ordering his followers.
"Any lawyer who would check on the elements of inciting to sedition or rebellion, one would say that it was still lacking," he added.
With the tensions in Zamboanga City, the President said that the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has been cooperating with the government.
"There is actually a scheduled talk in Jakarta next week. At this point in time, we are still pursuing it. We have been actively engaging them to conclude all of these talks," he said.
The OIC, through Indonesia, has been mediating the tripartite talks with the Philippine government and the MNLF.
Indonesia facilitated the peace talks between the government and the MNLF, which forged a final peace pact in 1996.
At the same time, the President said that he ordered a study regarding the structure of the MNLF, which reportedly has several factions.
"I understand that there are two other groups of the MNLF who could have already condemned what has been happening in Zamboanga City," he said.
But he added that when he asked Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles of the basis to say that Misuari was still the voice for the entire MNLF, her reply to him,"All the factions seem to defer to him."
And because of that, the President said, "that is also being studied at this point."
Aquino also criticized Misuari for apparently being hungry for power.
"Honestly and personally, it seems like if he (Misuari) won't be the leader of whatever will happen in ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), he would oppose it. So how are we going to agree if that is the situation?," he said.
Misuari was allegedly against the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a rebel group that brokeaway with the MNLF.
Under the framework agreement, a Bangsamoro government will be put in place to replace the ARMM. (SDR/Sunnex)