CMC, SP convened

on security situation

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) – Mayor Beng Climaco Thursdayconvened the Crisis Management Committee and the members of the City Council to tackle prevailing security situation amidst the latest abduction incident in Labuan and the proliferation of scare text messages.

The meeting held on an executive session focused on the anti-crime and peace-keeping efforts as well as recommendations of the police and military as reported by City Police Director Col. Angelito Casimiro and Col. Andrelino Colina respectively.

“Generally, the police and military already have their tactics and capabilities in response to criminal elements but Zamboanga City with a vast population and a very huge and porous coastline cannot solely rely on the police and military,” Mayor Climaco stressed.

This is the reason why, she said, the local government unit is putting in a lot of investment on public safety and security. However, she said, what is crucial is the participation and cooperation of the individual residents of the city.

The authorities are doing their best efforts to respond and to curb criminality but there are instances when people do not do their share in the fight against criminality. “Cuantos vivientes, base na report del maga otoridad, hinde ta toma activo accion encontra con el criminalidad. The question is what are our residents doing to fight criminality? The bottom line is we need to recruit civilian participation in order for us to fight criminality, do not depend on the police and the military.”

What is needed, according to the mayor is for the Zamboangueño community to actively support the authorities by reporting the presence of suspicious looking persons or items such as boxes, backpacks and plastic bags or other cargoes in their area to the police and or the barangay officials.

“Know your neighbours and most of all no mas quita man panic, si ta recivi text messages, reporta na police na 166 or 117 para tiene accion,” she emphasized.

She said some sectors are criticizing the peace keeping efforts of the authorities “but I challenge them to be critical but contribute and participate, we only have one Zamboanga, Zamboanga is ours let us protect it for our children.”

The chief executive pointed out that what is necessary is for the mobilization of force multipliers—the barangay tanods, the barangay intelligence network and force multipliers like each and every resident who are willing to courageously defend the city and its people and to protect the children by the act of taking pictures of suspicious activities and incidents and reporting the same to the police.

The joint CMC-SP meeting  resolved a number of things- through the Department of Interior and Local Governmetn to call on all the 98 barangays to create the Barangay Development Action Center (BDAC), BPOC and BPATS, the need to conduct bayanihan activities to win the community against bad elements, the need for community response and active fight in criminality, the need for the implementation of comprehensive security plan in all police stations and the utilization of the PNP Critical Incident Management Task Group (CIMTG) in times of unfavorable incidents.

Present during the joint meeting were Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde and members of the City Council, City DILG Director Atty. Mohammad Taha Arakama, Health Regional Director Dr. Nimfa Torrizo, Deputy Regional Police Director PCSupt. Ramon Ochotorena, 3^rd Air Division Chief MGen. Emeraldo Magnaye, representatives from the Naval forces Western Mindanao, Coast Guard, Office of Civil Defense, City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr., Assistant City Administrator Elmeir Apolinario, Ph.D., businessman Eduardo Chua and numerous others. (Sheila Covarrubias) (082614)