Zamboanga siege victims still waiting for promised homes

Eight years after the deadly three-week Zamboanga siege in September 2013, the victims of the incident are still waiting for their promised shelters.

According to a report on 24 Oras on Monday, over 27 families staying in temporary shelters in Zamboanga are still waiting to be relocated to their housing units.

"Hanggang ngayon nasa transitory site pa rin kami. Parang kahit gusto namin mag-move on para makalimutan 'yong nangyari noong 2013, hindi namin makalimuan kasi nandito pa kami," Abdulhapid Saimuddin, one of the victims, said.

"Hanggang ngayon nagtatanong kami kung kailan. Sunod-sunod kami sa kanila pero kami na naman na nag-request, sabihin nila na maghintay," Hadja Hawajin Absurasid added.

The City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) 0ffice said several housing units have yet to be finished.

Meanwhile, Ma. Socorro Rojas of the CSWD said several families, who are not beneficiaries of the project, are occupying the houses.

"One of the reasons why (hindi sila makalipat) is because there were illegal entries in the permanent shelters," she said.

The local government said it plans to build more houses for the real beneficiaries.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News