Businessman: Zamboanga economy being held hostage

Pocholo Soliven, president of the Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation, said department stores, malls and shops opened briefly in the morning, but were advised to close again this afternoon. "Last night, I was told that the local government through the mayor appealed that the business community should open up their stores to service the residents of Zamboanga. We heeded the advice, we opened our department stores, our malls, our supermarkets but around 12 in the afternoon, they advised us to close again," he told ANC. However, banks and other stores outside of the commercial center are open for business. "I think the whole city is in a hostage situation. It is catastrophic financially, economically but as well as emotionally for the people. But we always believe in the spirit of the Zamboanga residents, that we would always rise above this," he said. ANC News Now, September 11, 2013