MANILA -- Crediting its calibrated response, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was able to secure at least 78 more hostages of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Misuari group Tuesday morning. Most of them were students and residents of Barangays Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara. AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said the identities of the hostages are now being verified to weed out possible rebels who are pretending to be hostages. He added it does not matter if the hostages were released by Misuari's group or rescued. Tutaan said the military has recovered 70 percent of rebel-controlled barangays in Zamboanga City. "The calibrated response is to contain and constrict them. As we contain them in one area, we constrict their space in a manner of speaking. This is not space in terms of land area so to speak. This is space as far as how they can move along and open fire," he said. On Monday, the military began helicopter strikes on MNLF positions in Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara. But the AFP maintained that they will not go on an all-out offensive against the rebels to ensure the safety of remaining hostages.