Air Force starts airlifting stranded passengers in Zamboanga

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) yesterday started airlifting thousands of passengers stranded by the cancellation of flights since Monday due to the ongoing firefight between government forces and insurgents in Zamboanga City.

Officials said Air Force C-130 cargo planes would ferry some 3,000 passengers from 40 commercial flights that were cancelled.

The stranded passengers will be ferried from Zamboanga City to Mactan, Cebu International Airport. From Cebu, they will be accommodated by regular Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights plying the Cebu-Manila route.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced the indefinite suspension of flights to and from Zamboanga City.

CAAP also imposed a “no fly zone” over the city due to the risk of getting caught in the crossfire between government forces and insurgents belonging to the faction of Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

CAAP director general William Hotckiss III issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) in suspending all commercial air operations of Zamboanga International Airport.

Hotchkiss said Zamboanga International Airport is closed and a no-fly zone within 25 nautical miles radius is in effect for all aircraft, except military and special government flights.

CAAP said passengers affected by flight cancellations should contact their respective airline carriers for the revised flight schedules.

Cebu Pacific president and chief executive officer Lance Gokongwei said the closure of Zamboanga airport since Monday has affected close to 7,000 passengers.

Gokongwei said affected passengers are allowed to rebook their flights without penalties or request for a full refund.

Gokongwei said they are supporting the decision of CAAP to close the airport due to safety and security reasons.

“I think because of the obvious security situation in Zamboanga, the CAAP has put up a NOTAM shutting down the international airport and I think that is the best thing to do,” he said.

PAL officials earlier offered to assist stranded passengers of PAL and PAL Express in Zamboanga City.

The fighting, now on its fourth day, also affected and displaced thousands of residents in the city.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said there was enough relief supplies for the evacuees affected by the fighting.

The number of evacuation sites in the city increased to 13 as the fighting dragged into its fourth day.

Soliman, who remained in Zamboanga City to supervise relief operations, said 3,494 families or 16,118 persons have been affected by the fighting as of yesterday.

Of this number, 3,181 families with 14,859 persons are still staying in the 13 evacuation centers around the city.

An estimated P3.5 million in assistance has been extended to displaced families from the combined resources of the DSWD with P1.2 million, the Zamboanga City government, and civil society organizations.

Soliman said the World Food Program (WFP) has also donated 800 boxes of high-energy biscuits for children and senior evacuees.

The US government also provided $26,400 in relief and assistance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said the US embassy was responding to the immediate needs of some 14,000 residents displaced by the fighting in several areas of Zamboanga City.

“The United States has always been there for the Philippines in times of need, and we continue that tradition today for those suffering in Zamboanga,” Thomas said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed concern for civilians trapped in the Zamboanga crisis and called on those involved in the clashes to ensure their safety.

“We are closely monitoring the evolving situation in Zamboanga. Fighting is taking place in an area of the city where many civilians may still be living,” said Pascal Mauchle, head of the ICRC delegation in the Philippines.

ICRC said it is now working with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to ensure that vital aid reaches thousands of displaced people inside evacuation centers.

The group has provided parcels containing enough food for 27,000 daily rations to the local Red Cross in Zamboanga.

The Philippine Red Cross, for its part, has deployed two ambulances and about 45 volunteers to assist affected residents.

The ICRC has also provided medical supplies to a temporary hospital set up in Western Mindanao State University. The medicine is sufficient to treat 50 injured people and to provide general care to 1,000 patients.

The PRC said 36,532 individuals were displaced since the fighting broke out Monday.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), on the other hand, said victims caught in the fighting will be covered by state health insurance.

“We assured the public that all victims of violence in the area within this specified period who need treatment and confinement shall be covered by PhilHealth,” said PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Alexander Padilla. – Lawrence Agcaoili, Alexis Romero, Sheila Crisostomo, Rainier Allan Ronda, Pia Lee-Brago, Roel Pareño, Evelyn Macairan