Catholic priest says 12,000 displaced by Zambo hostilities

MANILA, Philippines - The standoff between government forces and Moro National Liberation Front rebels in Zamboanga City has already affected 12,000 people.

The Social Action Center of Archdiocese of Zamboanga said the displaced families are residents of the villages were the MNLF rebels were holed up.

As this developed, Archdiocese of Zamboanga administrator Monsignor Chris Manongas called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government to facilitate the distribution of relief goods to the evacuees.

Manongas observed that the relief operations given by concerned government agencies to the affected residents was "disorganized."

"Walang pagkain ang tao. Hindi organized,very slow ang DSWD. Kami we have so many volunteers from the Archdiocese from Ateneo but we have to arrange sa Social Welfare because I observe ay walang sistema ang pagpapakain, mahirap talaga walang pagkain most of the evacuees. They run with nothing so they have to depend totally sa relief ng government at church," Monsignor Manongas told Radyo Veritas. 

He said that around 1,000 evacuees are sheltered in three parishes and cathedral in the city.

The prelate also appealed to businessmen to open the stores and other commercial establishments in the city so that people affected by the standoff can buy food.

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, meanwile, said that she has ordered the release of P850,000 to augment the funds of its field office in Zamboanga Peninsula due to the crisis.

Soliman said that efforts are being undertaken to continue mobilizing all available resources to address the situation in the city.

The barangays affected by the crisis were Sta. Catalina, Sta. Barbara, Talon-Talon and Mampang.

Solimn said that their regional field office has available standby funds of P549,273.06; P1,693 family packs worth P423,250; and readily available food worth P94,190 all ready for augmentation.

The DSWD said that there were 8,171 persons staying in 11 evacuation centers in the city due to the armed conflict.

In a statement, the DSWD said as of 6 a.m., about 2,399 families equivalent to 10,916 persons have been displaced by the armed conflict.