MANILA, (PNA) — The Coast Guard Station (CGS)-Zamboanga on Saturday asked ship owners docked near the conflict site to transfer their vessels to avoid being hit with stray bullets.
This was after the CGS-Zamboanga said that stray bullets have been seen hitting the seawaters where ships are docked, especially those at the vicinity of Barangays Rio Hondo and Sta. Barbara.
The Philippine Coast Guard has indefinitely suspended commercial maritime operations in Zambonga, Basilan, and Sulu due as a result of the attack by the Misuari faction of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels in at least six coastal barangays of Zamboanga since Monday.
The CGS Zamboanga said vessels near Rio Hondo and Sta. Barbara were instructed to move to the boulevard area in Kawa-kawa District where it is more safe.
The area where the ships are docked is less than a kilometer away from Barangays Rio Hondo and Sta. Barbara, where sporadic firings have been reported.
The CGS Zamboanga said M/V Bounty Cruiser, a passenger ship, was allowed to sail Friday to ferry Hajj pilgrims to Zamboanga City where they will join other stranded airplane passengers on a flight to Cebu via a Philippine Air Force C-130 cargo plane.
The trip was coordinated with ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman. It was given a permit so the Hajj pilgrims can catch up with the trip going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.