ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Two Marine Battalion Landing Teams have arrived here, the Western Mindanao Command confirmed, as last year’s September siege, which lasted nearly a month, nears its first anniversary.
The teams are intended to help the joint Task Force Zamboanga maintain peace and security, authorities said, days after unverified reports sent via text messaging indicated another possible attack by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have been passed around.
Besides claiming dozens of lives from both parties, including civilians, the siege also damaged the city’s sports complex after it was used as an evacuation center for more than 100,00 persons who were displaced by fierce gun battle.
For its part, the local government has allocated P280 million to rehabilitate the city’s sports complex, including the rubberized track oval, which was in “total wreck,” Dr. Cecile C. Atilano, newly appointed City Sports Development Officer, told the media here.
The Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex still houses some 25,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) even though the city’s athletes are already using parts of it for training.
The city government earlier said it is set to transfer the remaining IDPs to another temporary site before the end of the year.
As of August, local government records showed there are still 25,498 IDPs that make up 4,776 families.
On Sept. 9 last year, some 500 members of the MNLF launched simultaneous attacks in five coastal villages in this city and advanced into the city.
For its part, the local government has allocated P280 million to rehabilitate the city’s sports complex, including the rubberized track oval, which was in “total wreck,” Dr. Cecile C. Atilano, newly appointed City Sports Development Officer, told the media here.
The Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex still houses some 25,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) even though the city’s athletes are already using parts of it for training.
The city government earlier said it is set to transfer the remaining IDPs to another temporary site before the end of the year.
As of August, local government records showed there are still 25,498 IDPs that make up 4,776 families.
On Sept. 9 last year, some 500 members of the MNLF launched simultaneous attacks in five coastal villages in this city and advanced into the city.
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