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A pastor was taken hostage and several Christians were among the many injured in an attack by a rebel group in September.
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is suspected of carrying out the attack on September 9 in Zamboanga, Mindanao province, which left at least six dead. At least 20 people were taken hostage, including a pastor of a church that ministered to Sama and Tausug believers from a Muslim background. More than 800 fled their homes, including from the busy Rio Hondo area. A local church has been tending to casualties.
The city has been placed on Red Alert, with schools cancelled and businesses closed. Officials say the rebel group has been using hostages as human shields as they marched towards the City Hall.
The MNLF has been seeking independence for decades, hoping to create an independent Islamic state. A ceasefire was agreed in 1996, but some of the group’s affiliates remain active.
