ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 10, 2014) – Gabriela Women’s Party has strongly criticized the government’s prolonged neglect of some 29,000 refugees of war who are languishing in cramped evacuation centers in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.
It said some refugees are now being forced into prostitution to be abvle to survive the harsh situation in those shelters. “Kailangan nang umaksyon ng Presidente Aquino para malutas na ang kaawa-awang lagay ng mga refugee na naipit sa pagitan ng militar at Moro National Liberation Front noong Setyembre, dahil pati kabataang babae ay natutulak na sa prostitusyon at trafficking,” Rep. Emmi De Jesus, of Gabriela Women’s Part, said.
She said the Aquino government has no business celebrating a regional peace covenant with another Muslim group when it still cannot protect war refugees in a single city long after the armed encounter ended and drove out civilians into camps.
Citing reports, De Jesus said the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex, where 2,000 families are housed, is notorious for the trafficking of girls and women. Transactions are made via text messaging, and the prostitution services are done inside tents, she said.
De Jesus said they are alarmed over reports that sexually transmitted infections have started to afflict minors, yet the local health office only gave them some treatments, condoms and lectures about the evils of prostitution.
“This is a palliative band aid solution that will not stop women from falling victims to sex trafficking. The refugees need to be resettled in decent houses, and provided livelihoods, free schooling and health services to prevent them from engaging in prostitution,” she said.
She also exhorted the national agencies to implement a comprehensive solution in Zamboanga and stop this negligent do-nothing attitude towards the refugees.
More than 120,000 people evacuated from their villagers after some 400 Moro National Liberation Front rebels attacked Zamboanga. The fighting, which lasted three weeks, left over 400 people dead and wounded.
The local government has not allowed many villagers, mostly Muslims from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, to return to their habitat unless they produce land certificates as proof they are natives here. (Mindanao Examiner)
20