Praying Philippines: Armed Forces Prays in Moment of Silence for Victims of Zomboanga City Stand-off

Philippine troops on a vehicle continue to engage Muslim villagers on the 12th day of the standoff Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 in Zamboanga city in southern Philippines. Police said Friday a bomb has exploded inside a parked bus and killed three people in the city where government troops are battling a holdout group of Muslim rebels holding about 20 hostages. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines took a moment of silence on Friday for praying for the victims of the prolonged stand-off in Zamboanga City.

The stand-off between Muslim rebels and the armed forces entered its 12th day on Friday. 10 soldiers and 3 police officers have been killed, reported ABS-CBN.

As the situation began earlier in the month, people on Twitter began encouraging praying for both the citizens of the city as well as the city itself, and the armed forces.

#PrayforZamboanga became a hashtag accompanying many tweets about the situation.

Harry Thomas Jr., the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, said in a tweet on September 8 that “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the peace-loving people of Zamboanga and their leadership.

He used the hashtag in his tweet.