Zambo siege displaces 82,106, as 64 more hostages rescued

From InterAksyon (Sep 17): DAY 9 | Zambo siege displaces 82,106, as 64 more hostages rescued

Nine days since supporters of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari tried to take control of Zamboanga City, a total of 82,106 residents have been displaced, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.

On the other hand, the police said 151 hostages have either escaped or been rescued. The military said among them were 64 rescued from the MNLF rebels.

The number of displaced is equivalent to 16,533 families living in 14 barangays in the city and one barangay from Zamboanga Sibugay province, NDRRMC said on its website.

It said 24 evacuation centers had been set up to serve 13,028 families or 67,845 people.

It added that the death toll as of Monday reached 87, including 71 from the MNLF, six from the military, three from the police, and seven civilians.

At least 165 were wounded, including 86 soldiers, 12 police personnel, and 67 civilians.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said at least 20 houses were destroyed while five were partially damaged.

Some P4.5 million worth of properties were destroyed by fires that hit Ayer Village in Sta. Barbara; houses near the mosque in Sta. Barbara; Lustre in Sta. Barbara; Fisheries Compound in Rio Hondo; and Kasanyangan Village.

The NDRRMC said the Zamboanga City Crisis Management Center is continuously trying to provide food and maintain sanitation in evacuation centers.

Hostages

“Early morning today we rescued a total of 64 civilian hostages (39 male, 21 female, and four children) of RME (rogue MNLF elements) in the vicinity of Sta. Barbara, ZC,” the military posted on its official tweeter account @TeamAFP.

Of the number, 36 of the hostages were rescued Monday night and the rest were rescued early Tuesday morning.

The military said the first batch of hostages was rescued by elements of the Joint Special Operations Group of the Philippine Army on Lustre Drive in Barangay Sta. Catalina.

Among them was Isidro Ufana, father of Father Michael Ufana, who was earlier released by the rebels.

The second batch of rescued 10 hostages came after three hours of operation.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Alan Purisima on Tuesday said: “Sa ngayon, 121 na bihag ang nakatakas o nasagip mula kagabi hanggang ngayong araw. Patuloy ang paghanap sa mga bihag.”

“Maingat ang ating mga sundalo sa pag-abante. Ang higit na inaalala ay ang kapakananan at walang masasaktan o mamamatay na sibilyan (Our soldiers are very careful. They are mindful of the people’s welfare and that no civilian will be killed or hurt),” said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, head of the military’s public affairs.

From five barangays, the military said its forces have already constricted the danger zone areas to only three as soldiers and policemen had already flushed out MNLF rebels from other areas.

The military said all the rescued hostages were brought to Camp Batalla for medical checkup and debriefing.....

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/70882/day-9--zambo-siege-displaces-82106-as-64-more-hostages-rescued