ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has asked Pope Francis to include in his prayers the thousands of people displaced by the September 2013 siege.
Salazar made the call as the Pope arrived Thursday afternoon in the country for a five-day visit.
“We would like to ask Pope Francis, place pray for the city of Zamboanga,” Salazar said.
The latest City Government records showed that 3,623 families comprising of 20,050 individuals are still in two evacuation centers and nine transitory sites in this city.
They are among the more than 100,000 people during the 21 days of fighting between government forces and hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters loyal to MNLF founding-chair Nur Misuari that infiltrated the city.
“We will not be able to see you, but please note that we are one city in Zamboanga – Christians, Muslims, and Lumads – in need of prayer for peace to build back a better Zamboanga. Pope Francis, please pray for peace,” the mayor said.
Salazar had written a letter earlier to Pope Francis to consider including the city in his itinerary once the Pontiff will decide to visit Philippines.
The Pope is scheduled to celebrate Mass near the Tacloban City airport on Saturday morning.
After the Mass, the pontiff will have a lunch with the poor and survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) at the residence of the Archbishop of Palo, Leyte. (Bong Garcia)