Hostages freed as Moro militants granted 'safe passage'

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, NOV. 28. For all the tough anti-terrorism talk from the Philippine President, Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her Government tamely granted ``safe passage'' to Moro militants in exchange for the release of some 100 hostages outside the southern city of Zamboanga.

Contrary to military assertions that the rebels from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) would surrender their weapons in return for a safe passage, nothing of the sort happened today. The militants were taken through by the security personnel with their weapons in place.

The MNLF militants, led by Mr. Julhambri Misuari, nephew of the rebel Governor, Mr. Nur Misuari, were said to have left for their base near the town of Taguite, 40 miles north of Zamboanga city.

Under the negotiated agreement which led to the release of the hostages, the Arroyo Government also freed 10 rebels who were taken into custody following fighting on Tuesday.

The rebel leader, Mr. Julhambri Misuari, told a Filipino radio station that he was freeing the hostages in return for the safe passage deal. ``The negotiation was peaceful....the fighting has stopped so we can collect our comrades. We want to exit,'' he stated.

In Manila, the Philippine President, Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said: ``We have to make sure that this doesn't happen again.''

Separately, Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, southern military commander, said: ``It's over already (the release), we were able to accomplish it without casualties among the hostages.''

For Ms. Arroyo, the hostages-for-safe-passage deal must have come as a major embarrassment given the tough public posture that she has maintained vis-a-vis militancy in the southern province of Mindanao.

The arrest of the rebel Governor, Mr. Nur Misuari, once seen as the ``solution'' to the conflict in Mindanao, by Malaysian police has done little to lift the image of Ms. Arroyo.

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Section  : International
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