SARABIA, XHEENA

BSCRIM IV-ECHO
The 2016 Tragedy: Zamboanga Seige

Zamboanga City is known as the “Asia’s Latin City” for its Latin-originated dialect
Chavacano or Philippine Creole Spanish due to the influence of the foreign invaders which is the
Spaniards in the year 1521 to 1898. It left so many good and bad effects to our fellowmen. After
the foreign imperialism that happened in our country and to our city, we won our rights to live in
our mother land and led us to freedom. Not just the Spaniards, Americans, and the Japanese ruin
our peaceful living, even our Kapwa kabayan invaded our city. An armed incursion happened in
Zamboanga City led by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) loyal to Nur
Misuari. Fighting ensued between the MNLF and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). As
the years go by, we all remembered the tragedy that happened on the 28th of September year
2016. More than 300 people were killed. And hundreds of thousands were left homeless.
Hundreds of evacuees continue to live under squalid conditions. Many of them deeply
traumatized by the fighting. Their horror continues, they tell me, because the situation in the
camps had stripped them of their dignity. Over 150 people have died in the shelters, more than
half of them are children. Most of them dying of respiratory and water-borne diseases. Medical
and food rations have dwindled. More than half of the children are out of school.

The rebels, estimated to number roughly 180 people, are thought to be headed by Habier
Malik, a senior MNLF leader who has been engaged in several such violent attacks in the past,
including one similar to this one in Zamboanga 12 years ago. He is a renowned Nur Misuari fan,
but the MNLF commander has denied authorizing this new operation, according to the
authorities.The MNLF militants in Zamboanga, for their part, have stated that they are fighting
for an independent state, not the autonomy that the government is seeking with the bigger MILF
insurgent organization. The Philippine military believes Nur Misuari is still accountable, and
officials are considering charging him criminally, despite the fact that his exact whereabouts are
unknown.

There were accusation of human rights violations from both sides. The Philippine
government claimed that the Moro National Liberation Front were using civilian hostages as
human shields. MNLF commanders claimed that they were using the civilians as guides, as they
are not familiar of the area. It is reported that MNLF members burned down houses and that
firefighters who tried to extinguish the fires were fired at. The MNLF, however claimed that the
Philippine security forces were behind in burning the houses in a bid to drive away MNLF
members who may be staying in the area. The American-based Human Rights Watch, in a
released media bulletin, claimed that both the MNLF and Government forces committed human
rights abuses. The bulletin also stated of an alleged torturing of detained suspected MNLF
members by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Armed Forces. According to the rights
group, security forces indiscriminately fired at the MNLF militants holding civilian hostages as
human shields. It also claimed that the MNLF selectively took Christian civilians as hostages

Even though it will not be part of the Bangsamoro territorial coverage, Zamboanga City
is crucial to the success of any peace agreement for a number of reasons. The treatment of
Muslim displaced persons needs to justify faith of the Muslim community that they are welcome
in the larger Philippine nation. If a “Latin City” is seen as not caring sufficiently for its Muslim
inhabitants, it strengthens the case for separatism. Economically, as an entrepôt sandwiched
between the mainland hinterland of the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Muslim-dominated Sulu
Archipelago, the city provides a vital link in value chains and trade routes. Culturally it is
vibrant, and potentially a demonstration of the benefits of pluralism and tolerance.
Leadership, both from the city government and the various communities and peoples of
Zamboanga, will be needed to fulfill potential and avoid pitfalls. The glass as of today is indeed
half-empty if you look at the continuing plight of those displaced, and half-full if you look at
progress that is finally being made at repairing lives. Much rides on how fast the water level
rises.
Although the government has said that the siege is over, scattered fighting is still on-
going, according to reports. I am hoping that peace returns to the island, a place Zamboanganos –
men, women and children – call home.