ZAMBOANGA CITY — Some 200 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members “clashed” with troops of the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade (IB) during a sports fest in Zamboanga Sibugay province.
Col. Bagnus Gaerlan, 102nd IB commander, said the sports event was held at the grounds of the brigade headquarters in the province’s capital town of Ipil on Wednesday.
“The dual meet aims to unite the MNLF and 102nd Infantry Brigade as partners in bringing peace and development in our area of responsibility,” Gaerlan said.
The sports fest consisted of fun and ball games that include raising the team’s banner, tug-of-war, obstacle course, basketball, and volleyball.
Accompanied by their families, the MNLF participants came from 14 of the 16 municipalities of Zamboanga Sibugay and three from Zamboanga del Norte.
Hadji Abdullah Usman, an MNLF commander, said the games seek to strengthen friendship between the MNLF personnel and government troops.
“We must unite in bringing peace and prosperity in our country,” Usman added.
Both the military and MNLF officials said similar friendly games will be held in the near future. -PNA
