Climaco: halt in Telecom operation a safety measure

Climaco: halt in Telecom

operation a safety measure

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) –City Mayor Beng Climaco clarified that the temporary cessation of telecommunication operations during the Fiesta Pilar celebrations was a safety measure put in place to ensure the safety of the processional route.

“The halt of [telecommunications] operations was a precautionary measure,” said Climaco during her press briefing at City Hall Monday morning.

Network signals and communications via mobile phones were disabled in the roads leading to and within the Fort Pilar area from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm Sunday, October 12, during the procession and mass which culminated the 2014 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival celebrations.

The same measure for safety and security was utilized to secure last year’s fiesta celebrations.

Climaco emphasized that the prerogative to temporarily halt communication services was made at the discretion of the telecommunication companies themselves upon request of the local government and security forces.

“We leave it at their discretion,” she said.

Telecommunication companies in the City agreed and heeded the request, and in cooperation with local police and military, observed the security protocol to restrict text and call services.

The Mayor emphasized that the safety of all residents attending the procession and mass was a primordial concern. The local government respects the right of residents to communicate, and the safety measure was not intended to impede this right.

Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) Commander Colonel Andrelino Colina said the precaution was pursued after investigations revealed traces of ammonium nitrate, wirings and mobile phone parts in the unattended thermos, later officially identified as an improvised explosive device (IED), found by security forces Saturday evening in Plaza Pershing.

“If ever we caused inconvenience for temporary shutdown of signal of all telecommunications, that was for everybody’s safety. We did this to protect the lives of everybody here,” declared Colina.

For her part, Climaco expressed her gratitude to the telecommunications companies for their response and vigilance.

“We would like to thank our telecommunication companies for supporting the City of Zamboanga, not only in promotions but also in security,” she said. (Jasmine Mohammadsali) (102114)