The Zamboanga City Crisis

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

The Philippine Army prevented the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels from taking over Zamboanga City on September 9, 2013. The battle ended on September 28, 2013. 

The rebels under the command of Nur Mussuari were ordered to occupy coastal communities in Zamboanga City as a protest for the government's failure to implement the 1996 final peace agreement with the MNLF. 

Hours earlier, on September 8, 2013 at 11:00 p.m., a large motorboat and eight small vessels carrying heavily armed men were intercepted by a Philippine navy patrol boat near Rio Hondo. A gunbattle followed which resulted in several casualties including one navy personnel and two civilians dead. 

The MNLF occupied barangays Rio Hondo, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina, and parts of Talon-Talon. They held more than 200 civilians as hostages. 

The attacks at Barangay Sta. Catalina prompted the Zamboanga City government to declare a "no classes, no work" all over the city. The airport was closed and a curfew was imposed. 

The Zamboanga City Crisis or the Zamboanga Siege displaced 120,000 civilians. Many homes were destroyed and 200 people were killed, who were mostly MNLF rebels. 25 soldiers, 5 policemen and 13 civilians also lost their lives. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org