A 71-year old Filipino woman, Norma Lladones, was killed in an explosion September 21, 2013 after a projectile hit their three-story in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines where military and rebel forces have been fighting the past two weeks. Jacqueline Lladones, the victim’s daughter-in-law and her husband are also injured in the explosion. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept.21, 2013) – An old woman was killed and two others injured after an projectile hit their three-story house on Saturday in the southern Filipino city of Zamboanga where sporadic fighting between military and rebel forces continue for two weeks now.
Norma Lladones, 71, whose family had helped feed refugees and soldiers battling Moro National Liberation Front rebels, died from shrapnel wounds in the village Teuan. Her daughter-in-law, Jacqueline, said the old woman fell from the second floor of their house and landed bloodied on the garage.
“I don’t know what happened. I was fixing the fridge and mother was behind me near by the door when I heard a deafening explosion and all around me turned black and there’s smoke and I was screaming for help, for mother and my husband. It was unreal and when the smoke cleared I saw mother down the garage. She’s bloodied,” she said.
Lladones, who was injured, miraculously survived the explosion that tore a huge hole on the house wall in the second floor. Her husband was also injured, although shaken from the powerful blast that also destroyed several rooms.
Shrapnel and debris from the blast tore through walls and doors and destroyed the ceiling at the second floor, where the family’s kitchen and prayer room is situated.
It was not immediately known whether the projectile came from a mortar round or a rocket-propelled grenade and bomb experts gathered pieces of shrapnel from around the house. But the center of the fighting was just a kilometer away from the house, whose facade now bore the brunt of the violence which has gripped the city of 800,000 people.
Hundreds of rebels stormed several villages on September 9 and took over 180 civilians and used them as shield against security forces, but officials said at least 175 people were freed, escaped or rescued since the violence erupted. And that about two dozen more are believed being held captive by rebels, who split into several groups.
Security officials said 13 soldiers and three policemen, including 81 rebels were killed in the fighting. The clashes forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes and resulted to a humanitarian crisis in Zamboanga and severely affected the economy of the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Sporadic clashes still continue in the villages of Santa Barbara and Santa Catalina where they rebels are scattered with their hostages. (Mindanao Examiner)
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