The local government of Zamboanga City buried up to 23 dead bodies, which were not claimed for nearly a year.

Through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD), burial rites were conducted and the remains were laid to rest in a mass grave at the city-owned cemetery in Barangay Talabaan.

Pursuant to a city ordinance, the city government is mandated to hold a mass burial for unclaimed corpses every year.

The city government said no one claimed the corpses stored at a morgue for about a year despite efforts to locate their relatives or friends.

The unclaimed corpses include 13 males and four females. Six others had undetermined gender.

These unclaimed dead bodies were victims of crimes; found in abandoned areas; or died in public hospitals or streets.

Aside from the 23, two other dead bodies were cremated. The 23 should have been cremated but this did not push through because of budgetary constraints.