Zambo bridge, a ‘Symbol of resilience, unity’

“THE SYMBOL of resilience and unity,” that is what Mayor Beng Climaco - now on her third and last term – calls the newly-rehabilitated Rio Hondo-Mariki Bridge, saying “it stands tall and proud after the 2013 siege.”

Mayor Beng Climaco during the turn over of the Rio Hondo-Mariki Bridge. (Bong Serondo)

Climaco, who is running for congresswoman in the May polls, was referring to the attacks of the Moro National Liberation Front rebels loyal to Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF. 

She said the rehabilitation of the iconic bridge was funded by the local government and is one of the projects that Rep. Jawo Jimenez pushed because of its importance to the residents of Rio Hondo and Mariki, which connects the two barangays to mainland Zamboanga.

The handover was attended by local government and barangay officials.

“The bridge is the only structure that remained after the siege and is also considered as a symbol of unity of the Muslims and Christians, and also a symbol of peace,” Climaco said. 

Climaco is popular among Muslims and other indigenous tribes here because of her many programs, especially in equality and welfare projects.

Last September, she led officials in commemorating the heroism of those who perished during the siege that lasted for three weeks. The siege was the second since 2001 after rebels attacked Zamboanga and killed and held hostages dozens of innocent civilians.

Climaco has set September 9 as a “Special Day of Remembrance” in honor of all those who perished in the siege. And eight years after the deadly attack, residents here are still crying for justice which remains elusive for the innocent victims of the siege.  

Climaco, who chairs the Local Inter-Agency Council that oversees the Z3R Program, is the one who continues to push for the completion of housing and other vital infrastructure projects for those displaced by the siege.

Z3R stands for Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction and is the national government’s rehabilitation plan for the areas affected by the fighting such as Rio Hondo and Mariki.

Supporters of Misuari attacked Zamboanga after declaring independence and their failed attempt to raise the Bangsamoro Republik flag at City Hall. Misuari publicly denied involvement in the siege of Zamboanga that displaced over 200,000 people and affected the economies of Basilan and Sulu which are dependent on Zamboanga for their trades and goods.

Climaco - who stood firm against the MNLF during the entire period of the crisis - has banned any so-called peace rally or gathering of the MNLF members in Zamboanga City. She said such rallies will not be allowed as this might disturb Zamboanga anew. “I am giving you a categorical no; you must not disturb Zamboanga anymore. If you want to come up with your rally, make it in your area, Zamboanga will not welcome a rally by MNLF, not at this time because you still have to be accountable with the killings and devastations we are suffering from,” she said.

“The destruction wrought by the 2013 siege continues to linger, as internally displaced persons – both Muslims, Christians and Lumads, most of whom are those who eluded the conflicts in Sulu and Basilan – have suffered the brunt of the MNLF attack in Zamboanga,” she added.

Misuari signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996 ending decades of bloody war. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the peace accord, he said there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.

Under the peace agreement, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.

In November 2001, hundreds of MNLF members occupied the Cabatangan Complex and held hostage dozens of civilians, including children; and another group also attacked a military base in Sulu province in an effort to stop the elections in the Muslim autonomous region after Misuari was ousted as governor.

More than 100 people were killed in the fighting and in the end, then Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat allowed the attackers to leave Zamboanga in exchange for the hostages. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines and was eventually pardoned and released by President Gloria Arroyo reportedly in exchange for MNLF support to her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004.

He also ran several times for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost. Now, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted to resume the peace process with Misuari and ordered police and military not to arrest the MNLF chieftain. (Zamboanga Post, Mindanao Examiner)