MANILA, Philippines - The cost of damage caused by the fire during the standoff between the military and Moro National Liberation Front fighters in Zamboanga City has reached over P200 million, the state run disaster response agency reported on Wednesday.
Quoting the report of the Bureau of Fire Protection last Sept. 30, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the cost of damage during the spate of fire that destroyed 10,160 houses has already reached P200.57 million.
The NDRRMC said the fires broke out in Ayer Village, Sta. Barbara; near the mosque in Sta. Barbara; Lustre, Sta. Catalina; Fisheries Compound, Rio Hondo; Mariki; Rojo Compound, Sta. Catalina; Zone 4; and Mampang.
The heavy fighting, since the standoff started last September 9, has displaced 23,794 families or 118,819 people in the city, the NDRRMC added.
Meanwhile, the ongoing clearing operations by government security forces yield around 165 pieces of unexploded munitions, the military said.
Government troops also recovered 27 bodies from the areas formerly occupied by MNLF rebels loyal to Nur Misuari.
Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office head, said that some of the bodies were recovered from shallow graves.