CATBALOGAN CITY, SAMAR, Philippines — A truck-load of assorted relief goods, donated by soldiers of the 8th Infantry Division and civic organizations in this province, were sent to the AFP Central Command headquarters based in Cebu City for dispatch to Zamboanga City.
The Freeman gathered that the 8th ID was able to send 10 sacks of rice, 11 boxes of canned goods, 19 boxes of noodles, medicines, laundry items, 52 sacks of clothing and P8,925 cash.
The goods were loaded on the Philippine Navy ship BRP Bagobo AT 293 for consolidation with other donations from other AFP units in the Visayas and accordingly will be sent to Zamboanga City via C130 plane of the Philippine Air Force.
8th ID commander, Brig. Gen. Jet Belarmino, said the sending of the relief goods was a collective effort of the soldiers under his command who sympathize with the plight of civilians caught in the middle of the conflict between government troops and the MNLF-Misuari faction, which has been going on for more than two weeks now.
Belarmino also conveyed the 8th ID's condolences to the families of soldiers who gave their lives in ending the war in that part of Mindanao.
Meanwhile in Negros Oriental, Gov. Roel Degamo had initiated moves to solicit donations, either in kind or in cash, to help the victims of the Zamboanga crisis.
Degamo put up P10,000 of his personal money to jumpstart the campaign for donations. He said this is voluntary and any donation will be coursed through Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, headed by Alice Legarde, who was also instructed to coordinate with her counterpart in Zamboanga. (FREEMAN)