Zambo discovers illegal settlers among evacuees

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - More than 400 families have reportedly infiltrated the ranks of the evacuees camped at the shoreline of R.T Lim Boulevard  in this city to take advantage of the government housing program under its rehabilitation phase for those displaced by the attempt of rebels to take over the city last year, a government official said.

Assistant City Administrator Elmeir Apolinario said the discovery came following the re-validation by the housing cluster on the original number evacuees, mostly of Samal and Badjao tribe, who prefer to stay in the shoreline area than inside the adjacent Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex (JFEMSC) which houses  about 20,000 evacuees.

Apolinario said they have conducted the mapping and tagging of the IDPs in the R.T Boulevard and sports complex to prevent the rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) from infiltrating.

He said based on their mapping and tagging the number of displaced families stationed in the R.T Lim Boulevard shorelines was reduced to around 400 families as most of them have been relocated to the transitory relocation site.

However, during the re-validation, the city government discovered 400 more families that have merged and built their shafts and tent houses among those who chose to stay.

Apolinario said those who took advantage and infiltrated were families who came from other barangays, including those from as far as Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The city officials said they have directed those who are not part of the affected evacuees to return to their respective places. - Roel Pareño