Full red alert in Zamboanga City

Since yesterday (18 Aug 08), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have been wreaking havoc in the Lanao area, shooting and hacking civilians, burning their houses and vehicles and taking hostages. A bus was seized by the rebels, killing some of the passengers. Today, another bus, passengers killed and the bus bombed.

To my mind, these rebels are trying to make a point. First, they attack North Cotabato then Iligan City and Lanao provinces, then where’s next? Zamboanga City? To complete the oppositors of the Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain?

In response to the skirmishes in central Mindanao, Zamboanga City is placed under red alert.

The Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Free and Accepted Masons of Zamboanga donated communications equipment worth Php180,000. I was witness to the turn-over of 30 UHF radios at the city hall this morning (19Aug08).

Residents of Zamboanga have nothing to fear as the city police augments some more forces from the regional mobile group. The augmentation is in addition to the military’s Task Force Zamboanga which supports the city police. “Intelligence forces are working day and night to monitor and keep an eye on the city,” city police director S/Supt. Lurimer Detran said in an interview.

In the downtown area, aside from the PNP detail in street corners, patroling army soldiers can also be seen. This in all to avert lawless or terroristic activities.

Let’s be vigilant and not panic at every horrifying text message.

National day of mourning for media

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Radio Mindanao Network, and other media organizations will wear black and join the nationally-coordinated action tomorrow, August 20, in protest of the murder of radio broadcasters Martin Roxas (Capiz) and Dennis Cuesta (General Santos City).

In Metro Manila, journalists and other members of media will gather at 8:30 am at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani (Quezon Ave. cor. EDSA) for a short ceremony paying tribute to the slain journalists.

Journalists in the following areas will also wear black and join protest actions will also be held in the following areas: Baguio, Olongapo, Pampanga, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Capiz, Zamboanga, Davao, Quezon, Bukidnon, Kidapawan, Ozamiz, General Santos and Jolo.

Reference:
Rowena Paraan
Secretary-General, NUJP

[The NUJP-Zamboanga will join the rest of the media throughout the Philippines today (20Aug08) with a ceremony infront of the RMN radio station along Pilar Street, followed by a walk to St. Joseph church where a mass will be offered.]