ARMM says 7,500 food packs for Zamboanga on standby

At the Evacuation Center. Photos grab from PIA-9 FB

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Some 7,500 food packs are ready for transport to Zamboanga City, a top official of the Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) here said.

ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said the food packs are currently with the region’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office awaiting go signal from Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman for delivery.

“The food packs are on standby pending orders from the governor,” Alamia said.

DSWD-ARMM Secretary Pombaen Kader said an additional 1,500 other food packs are currently being readied by her office staff should the need for its distribution may arise.

Early this week, the ARMM has sent an initial 2,000 food packs to Zamboanga, which have been distributed to various evacuation centers in the area.

Though not part of ARMM, constituents from the ARMM island-provinces of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi frequent Zamboanga City for banking and trading transactions.

“We are doing this (relief mission) to express our oneness with the Zamboanga people during times like this,” Alamia said.

Hataman is currently in Zamboanga City coordinating with concerned government agencies and Muslim religious leaders for the swift resolution of a standoff between government forces and rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members who are currently holed in five villages of the locality.

The standoff entered its third day on Wednesday with the MNLF faction refusing to leave the city unless ordered by Nur Misuari whom they recognize as their supreme leader.

Misuari, founding chair of the MNLF, prior to the bolting out in 2001 by a group of comrades to form the MNLF Executive Council of 15, has recently declared secession in certain parts of Mindanao for the establishment of a Bangsamoro state. (PNA)