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Friday, August 17, 2007
Senator vows to probe 'food blockade' in Basilan
By Cheng Ordoņez
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Senator Richard Gordon, chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), vowed to investigate the food blockade allegedly implemented by military units in Basilan province.
Earlier, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) complained that military units in Basilan implemented a food blockade in Al-Barka to force the suspects in the July 10 ambush-slay of Marine soldiers to yield.
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The MILF said innocent civilians were affected by the food blockade.
"The Philippine National Red Cross has no probing functions, but I, in my capacity as a senator, will definitely investigate the allegation on food blockade," Gordon said.
Gordon said the act of implementing food blockade is inhuman, and contrary to the humanitarian efforts of the PNRC.
Gordon said as a Red Cross official who is for the uplifting of human lives and condition he simply cannot allow a food blockade to happen.
Gordon arrived in Zamboanga City from Sulu province on Thursday, and met with Mayor Celso Lobregat, a Red Cross governor, and members of the local PNRC board of directors.
He later proceeded to Basilan to also check on the humanitarian mission undertaken by the Red Cross there.
After paying a call on Lobregat at City Hall in the morning, he met with local media for a press conference.
The senator was accompanied by Red Cross assistant secretary general Gwendolyn Pang, Disaster Management head Benjie Delfin, and Asia-America representatives.
Local Red Cross Administrator Vic Liozo Jr. said Senator Gordon visited evacuation centers in Indana and Patikul in Sulu to evaluate immediate needs of the people in consultation with the provincial PNRC chapter and government officials.
In Basilan, the senator conferred with Provincial Red Cross chapter and local officials over the condition of displaced persons who fled their homes when the military started operations in Al-barka. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (August 17, 2007 issue)
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