ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 25, 2013) – Police authorities have recovered explosives on a village in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines where security forces clashed with separatist rebels last month.
Police said the explosives were discovered at Martha Drive in the village of Santa Catalina, scene of deadly street battles between troops and Moro National Liberation Front rebels who occupied the area.
Among those recovered by authorities were four 40mm mortars, five hand grenades and a smoke grenade.
The explosives were retrieved by a team of police bomb squad headed by SPO1 Benjamin Rubio. It was unknown whether the unexploded ordnance belonged to the MNLF rebels or security forces.
The fighting in at least 6 villages lasted three weeks and killed and wounded over 400 people and resulted in a humanitarian crisis. Many of the villages were burned and authorities have not allowed residents to return because of clearing operations by policemen and soldiers. (Mindanao Examiner)
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