Military base at Zambo crisis site pushed

MANILA, Philippines - The military is optimistic that the plan to build a military base at a site where the Zamboanga crisis occurred would lure investors and create a sense of security among the residents.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang said the base is part of efforts to help the lives of the affected residents return to normal.

“There’s a lot of development. It’s all part of winning the peace so investors will come in,” Catapang told journalists in an interview over the weekend.

“The apprehensions are still there. But if they see that we are putting up the units, the patrol base, (they will see that) we (are making) sure that it (Zamboanga crisis) will never happen again,” he added.

The crisis erupted when followers of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari tried to hoist their flag at the city hall and held several civilians hostage in September last year.

A total of 208 MNLF members and 20 soldiers were killed in the firefight. 

The local government and the military are planning to build a forward operating base in the former conflict zone to secure the villages affected by the clashes.

Officials overseeing the Zamboanga Rehabilitation Roadmap to Recovery are seeking the release of P143.68 million to build the military facilities in Rio Hondo.

Catapang said the base would secure coastal communities and allow authorities to inspect vessels entering the area.

“We want to normalize the lives of the people because if they see that there are soldiers around, they will become more comfortable and they will feel that they are safe,” he said.

Security officials are also planning to position the Navy’s new helicopters in the area to strengthen territorial defenses.

“We need to secure our borders with Malaysia. Besides, the threats are now global like global trafficking, global smuggling,” Catapang said.

The military expects the construction of the base to be completed next year.