ZAMBOANGA CITY - President Aquino on Friday rejected as false an online news report that said 80 Moro National Liberation Front rebels have surrendered in Zamboanga City. "Mali yata yung report. Wala pang sumuko," he said. He said around 200 MNLF men loyal to Nur Misuari remain holed up in 5 villages in Zamboanga City. Aquino described as an "evolving story" the negotiations for the release of more than 100 hostages in Zamboanga. He also questioned if the MNLF men are clear about their objectives in Zamboanga. The standoff between MNLF forces and government troops began about a month after Misuari declared independence for Mindanao, Palawan and parts of Malaysia. The declaration of independence was triggered by what the group believes is the government's abandonment of tripartite review of the 1996 final peace agreement in favor of holding peace talks with an MNLF breakaway group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). At least 13,000 Zamboanga residents have already fled their homes as the fighting continues. The standoff has left at least 12 dead. ANC, September 13, 2013