20130930 Philippines Fire razes houses in Zambo City village, military still on high alert
Philippines Sep 30 2013 “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire razes houses in Zambo City village, military still on high alert
Updated: 2013-10-02-15:22
A policeman inspects the bullet-riddled wreckage of a jeep during clearing operations in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City on Monday, September 30. Benjie Liwanag Jr.
Residents of a village in Zamboanga City who were displaced by the 20-day clash between government troops and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members lost their homes for good not because of bullets, but because of a fire.
According to a report by Raffy Tima on “Balitanghali” Tuesday, a fire broke out on Puerto Princesa Drive in Barangay Talon-talon Sunday, a day after the military declared the crisis in Zamboanga City was over.
Several houses were razed in the fire, which angered residents hopeful to return to their homes after the 20-day conflict forced them to flee from the village and stay at evacuation centers.
“Sinabi ngang crisis is over pero ‘yung bahay ko naman, [nasunog]. Masakit kasi pagkatapos naming tiisin ‘yung 20 days na labanan, malalaman namin kung kailan sinabing tapos na ‘yung bakbakan na nasunog ‘yung mga bahay namin,” said Avnaser Laja, a resident.
As of Tuesday noon, the military has not yet confirmed whether the fire was started by MNLF rebels, the Balitanghali report said. Villagers, however, suspect the fire was deliberately started to divert attention from the clearing operations being conducted by the military after the crisis.
Barangay Talon-talon is among the areas in Zamboanga City that sustained the most damage during the three week-long gunfight.
City officials led by Mayor Beng Climaco have started rehabilitating the city in the aftermath of the 20-day conflict, which left thousands of residents without homes and several properties damaged.
Climaco asked the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday to recommend to President Benigno Aquino III the declaration of a state of calamity over the city “on the basis of humanitarian crisis.”
Zamboanga City Hall has resumed its operations although curfew continues to be implemented in critical areas identified by the military.
The military remains on high alert in the aftermath of the crisis and is closely guarding the mangrove forests in the village which may be used by MNLF rebels to escape, the Balitanghali report said. –Xianne Arcangel/KG, GMA News
Websource:GMA News Online
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/329086/news/regions/fire-razes-houses-in-zambo-city-village-military-still-on-high-alert
Date:2013-10-02
Country:Philippines