Philippine rebels release 100 hostages, kidnap police chief
Published: Sept. 17, 2013 at 8:04 AM
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Muslim rebels in Zamboanga City kidnapped the city's police chief after releasing some 100 hostages Tuesday during a deadly standoff, Philippine officials said.
The rebels, identified as members of the Nur Misuari-led faction of the Moro Liberation Front, have been holed up since last week in the largely Christian Zamboanga City on the country's southern-most Mindanao Island, apparently with the aim of taking over the city. The rebels held dozens of local people hostage before freeing more than 100 of them.
Chief of the Zamboanga City police, Jose Chiquito Malayo was negotiating the release of the hostages with the rebels when they held him at gunpoint, a statement from the Philippine National Police said.
Malayo and four of his escorts were taken, though their whereabouts were not reported, Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.
Later Tuesday, troops launched an operation to rescue Malayo and his escorts, though military and government officials refused to release details of the operation, Sunstar.com.ph reported.
Police said Malayo's abduction will not affect military operations in the two-week standoff with the MNLF, GMA News reported.
A cease-fire between the military and MNLF announced over the weekend has not taken hold.
The MNLF, founded in 1971, has sought an autonomous region for the Muslims in the country. The group signed a peace deal with the Philippines government in 1996 but some of its members have since broken away from the group to continue its campaign.
