Malacañang Palace is currently studying whether it will be feasible to put a bounty on Nur Misuari, founding chairman of rebel group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that attacked the city of Zamboanga in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, however, denied that Malacañang will release a shoot-to-kill oreder against Misuari.
“We do not certainly abide by shoot on site or shoot-to-kill order,” she said.
“I will leave the rest to the PNP (Philippine National Police) on the ground as to what they are doing about this (Misuari),” she added.
Valte said there is still no effort to ask neighboring countries for aid in the capture of Misuari.
“So far, our efforts are still local,” she said.
She also said that security forces stationed in the immediate vicinity of Zamboanga are waiting and preparing for Misuari’s next move.
Misuari and his followers were last week charged by government authorities with charges connected to the crisis in Zamboanga, including rebellion and crimes against International Humanitarian Law.
Zamboanga pensisula chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Senior Superintendent Edgar Danao, said they have statements from witnesses that link Misuari with the crisis.
Misuari declared the formation and independence of a Bangasmoro Republic late last August in the province of Sulu.
CIDG has said the declaration may have been a catalyst for the attack on Zamboanga.
Government troops have been placed in possible escape routes, including navy gunboats along routes towards the nearest country, Malaysia.
The crisis in Zamboanga was allegedly ordered by Misuari in response to government dealings with break-away group Moro Islamic Liberation Front over the formation of a new autonomous Bangsamoro region, to which his MNLF group felt left out.
The crisis has killed hundreds and displaced close to 100,000 residents of the city, triggering a humanitarian crisis in the area.
(with reports from The Philippine Star)