Philippines - Rebels Agree to Cease-Fire - NYTimes.com The vice president of the Philippines, Jejomar Binay, said Friday that a Muslim rebel leader had accepted a cease-fire to allow talks on ending a five-day hostage crisis in which his followers have held more than 100 people. The standoff began Monday when about 200 fighters from a Moro National Liberation Front rebel faction stormed several southern coastal communities and seized residents. Twenty-two people, including 15 rebels, have been killed in sporadic clashes, the military said. Mr. Binay said the rebel leader, Nur Misuari, agreed to a truce late Friday by telephone. President Benigno Aquino III, above, flew to Zamboanga earlier Friday to visit government troops and some of the 24,000 residents displaced by the violence. Mr. Aquino warned in a speech that his government would not hesitate to use force to end the most serious security crisis his administration has faced since he came to power in 2010.