Some Filipinos in the Saudi capital have condemned the attacks of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) on some barangays (villages) in Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island, where the group took 180 people as human shields and hostages.
“The attack by the MNLF is untimely. (MNLF leader) Nur Misuari’s group should have waited for the completion of the negotiations,” Mohammad Eli Mua, president of the Union of Muslim Associations, told Arab News.
President Benigno Aquino III issued a warning on Thursday that if the rebel group does not stand down, it risks a full-blown confrontation with government troops.
The attack took place on Tuesday with the group planning to take over the city hall and unfurl the MNLF flag.
Alex Bello, the president of the Overseas Filipino Workers Congress in Riyadh, said. “The MNLF attack greatly affects the Philippine economy and its tourism sectors,” he said.
Because of the standoff between the military and the rebel group, life appears to have ceased in the city. Businesses have closed, and the city’s mayor, Beng Climaco, has advised her constituents to remain calm, saying that the MNLF would not be able to take over the city hall.
News of the MNLF attack quickly gained the attention of Filipinos in the Kingdom and other parts of the world. Some of them criticized government, saying it had not done enough to identify the rebels from the civilians.
Others criticized all Muslims in the Philippines on their social media accounts.
A Filipino Muslim here said: “You should not generalize and say all Filipino Muslims are terrorists or rebels. Many of us have not deviated from Islam’s rightful path.”
Don Don Cercado, 48, a Filipino working at Zamil Steel told Arab News he found it suspicious that the media allegedly gave more airtime to the MNLF attacks.
“When I watched the events on television, it was as if the conflict was scripted. I may be wrong but I think this is just a ploy to cover up the bigger issues in the Philippines.”
The military standoff with the MNLF, founded by Nur Misuari, has been going on for four days. Twelve civilians have been killed and 36 wounded. Over 3,000 civilians have sought refuge at an evacuation center.
Filipinos condemn attacks by MNLF
