Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III said Tuesday that there was no need at the moment to declare a state of emergency in the southern city of Zamboanga despite tensions there due to the presence of armed Muslim rebels.

Aquino in an interview said that the government has " overwhelming" troops in Zamboanga City to ensure that the skirmishes between the military and dozens of followers of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) would not spillover to other areas.

"We have been airlifting our troops, including the elite forces, in Zamboanga City...At this time, there's no (need to declare state of emergency)," he said.

The President reiterated that the priority of the government now is to secure the civilian population.

Asked if Nur Misuari, founding chairman of the MNLF, would be held accountable for the situation now in Zamboanga City, Aquino said it was still difficult to say that charges could be filed against him since there was no enough evidence to prove that he was really engaged in the criminal activity there, including the hostage-taking of more than a hundred people.

But he said that the Department of Justice has been conducting further investigation against Misuari.

He also said that the Organization of Islamic Conference has been cooperating with the government in dealing with the MNLF.

Citing information from the field, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the MNLF fighters took some 300 hostages from different villages in the predominantly-Christian city.

According to Zagala, the MNLF is holding hostages to be used as leverage in negotiating with the government forces.

For two days now, Zamboanga City has been shut down, with classes and work in public and private offices suspended. Most business establishments have also closed.