AFP warns Zambo folk of risk from unexploded ordnance; clearing mission under way

From InterAksyon (Sep 29): AFP warns Zambo folk of risk from unexploded ordnance; clearing mission under way

Zamboanga residents whose homes are in the six barangays affected by the MNLF siege that laid to waste some 10,000 homes in the city were advised not to return to their houses without military clearance, owing to the high risk posed by unexploded ordnance.

The advice came from Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP Public Information chief, a day after the military said its mission had been accomplished with the last of the hostages rescued and soldiers doing house-to-house clearing to ferret out stragglers from the followers of Nur Misuari.

Meanwhile, despite the declaration that the Zamboanga City crisis is now over, three more MNLF fighters were killed and six Marines wounded following an encounter in Barangay Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City Saturday morning.

Initial reports said the firefight took place around 11: 25 a.m.

The wounded Marines are all from 1st Marine Battalion Landing Team.

It was not immediately known whether this latest encounter was the result of the military's clearing operations in areas formerly occupied by the rebels. No other details were available as of this posting.

Roxas: Clearing operations begin

Earlier on Saturday, Local Government Sec. Manuel Roxas, II announced the shift to clearing operations to ensure the safe return of civilians to their homes.

Roxas’ statement came after National Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin announced that the standoff, which entered the 20th day Saturday, is over.

Roxas said the clearing operations would last from 10 days to two weeks or more since it will be a room-to-room and a house-to-house search.

Roxas said it will really take time since the houses are closely built to each other and the clearing operation area ranges from 30 to 40 hectares.

“What are sought to be avoided here are booby traps, IED (improvised explosive device); and of course, we also want to retrieve if there are still undiscovered bodies. arms, or munitions that were left behind," Roxas said, speaking partly in Filipino.

Roxas, Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista visited Saturday morning Martha Drive in Barangay Sta. Catalina, one of the sites of fierce gun battle between the troops and MNLF rebels who infiltrated this city.

Gazmin said that the soldiers will remain to assist the police force in undertaking the clearing operations in the “areas of concerns.”

The clearing operation is the second phase of the government action. The first phase is the military operation launched against the hundreds of MNLF rebels who infiltrated the city last September 9.

Roxas said the third phase, which is the reconstruction, will immediately begin once the clearing operation is over.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71722/afp-warns-zambo-folk-of-risk-from-unexploded-ordnance-clearing-mission-under-way