By Antonet Go
ZAMBOANGA CITY, (PNA) – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Zamboanga City chapter vowed to continue working although 12 of its volunteers and staff were wounded while rendering humanitarian duty amid the standoff here.
The volunteers and staff were wounded when an M-203 grenade fell from the enemy forces near them while rescuing hostages shortly after 5 p.m. Friday along Dr. Evangelista Street, Barangay Sta. Catalina.
“We will continue to serve our people, it is our mandate,” PRC-Zamboanga City chapter Administrator Victor Liozo, Jr. said.
Wounded and admitted at the Zamboanga Doctors’ Hospital are PRC staffs Dr. Kelly Geronimo and Gabriel Sision and volunteers Karbie Alvendia, Aibsar Harmin, Keren Ganza, Michael Jan Yucor, Nelil Sapal, Benrauf Jilluh, and Michael Miranda.
Admitted at the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga are Jeremy Balbon, Abdulkhafidz Ibnohassan, and Jayson Agustin.
Liozo said the PRC will shoulder hospitalization of the PRC staffs and volunteers who were wounded in the line of duty.
Liozo said that they have hundreds of PRC staffs and volunteers are in the front line helping in the relief operations and rescue operations as well as transport of casualties.
They have been rendering humanitarian services since Day 1 of the standoff. The standoff enters the sixth day, Saturday.
The standoff started when hundreds of “Misuari-faction” of Moro National Liberation Front rebels infiltrated this city early Monday.