Army hails perished soldiers in Zamboanga siege

The Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division has recognized the bravery of its soldiers who died defending Zamboanga City from separatist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels in three weeks of street battles that killed and wounded over 400 people.

Troops clashed with rebels under MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari who stormed several villages on September 9. “As the smoke of standoff subsides, different acts of heroism emerged to tell their own story in the historic defense of Zamboanga City against organize threat groups under Nur Misuari. But two members of 1st Infantry Division will no longer tell their stories to their families and friends. They were among those killed during the crisis,” said Brig. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., the Division commander.