Smoke from a burning community in Zamboanga City rises in the air as government troops battle MNLF rebels. Authorities say more than 10,000 homes have been razed since the crisis began September 9. (AFP file)
At least 10,160 homes in Zamboanga City have been razed in the course of the bloody standoff between government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front, which entered its 16th day Tuesday with no indication yet when it would be declared over even as authorities say the rebels have been reduced to a handful of holdouts.
As of Tuesday, there were reports of sporadic sniping by MNLF gunmen as the military engaged them in "close quarter" fighting.
The Office of Civil Defense in Region 9, in a report that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council released on Tuesday, said the count does not include buildings and other structures that have also been destroyed by fires either set off by the fighting or which authorities have accused the MNLF of setting as the rebels moved from place to place to evade government offensives.
Initial estimates of the damage to property and infrastructure since the crisis started on September 9 have been placed at more than P4 billion.
President Benigno Aquino III has promised Zamboanguenos more than P3 billion to rehabilitate the city while the Department of Social Welfare and Development has also earmarked almost P4 billion.
The OCD said 3,591 houses were destroyed in Barangay Sta. Catalina, 2,113 in Rio Hondo, 1,685 in Kasanyagan, 1,592 in Sta. Barbara and 1,179 in Mariki.
The agency also said 118,819 persons, or 23,794 families, from 14 barangays have been affected by the violence, with almost 100,000 people sheltered in 33 evacuation centers.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71389/at-least-10160-houses-razed-in-zamboanga-standoff
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