No shutdown of Mindanao evacuation centers - AFP

President Arroyo did not close down evacuation centers in conflict- and calamity-stricken areas of Mindanao.

Speaking over radio dzBB, Armed Forces civil relations service chief Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan said they have not received such instructions from Mrs. Arroyo.

“What the President said was to find ways so that they could return to their homes,” he said.

“We have not closed down any evacuation center. We hope that story could be cleared because it’s unfair to the soldiers.”

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said 20,000 families mostly from Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and North Cotabato are staying in 170 evacuation centers in central Mindanao.

Refugees will not be sent home until their communities have been declared safe by the military, she added.

Pangilinan said Army engineers will be sent to help in the rehabilitation of conflict- and typhoon-hit areas and the care of about 40,000 civilians seeking refuge in evacuation centers in central Mindanao.

“It (repair of the houses) is timely because the floodwaters are already receding,” he said.

“They (military engineers) are fast-tracking the repair of the houses. That is where they are busy on.”

Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, belied reports that the military meant to close down the evacuation centers to force the refugees to return to their homes.

“We are not forcing them to return to their homes through closure of the evacuation centers,” he said.

“There is definitely no order to close down the evacuation centers.”  – James Mananghaya, Helen Flores