Monday, April 30, 2007 Combatant cops deployed to Zambo Norte town By Bong Garcia
THE Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) headed by Chief Supt. Jaime Caringal has deployed combatant policemen to help maintain law and order on election day in one of the Zamboanga del Norte towns.
Zamboanga del Norte Police Director Mario Yanga said Regional Mobile Group (RMG) 9 personnel were deployed in La Libertad town.
RMG agents are known as the combatant and striking force personnel of the police in every region.
Yanga said the situation in La Libertad town "should be seriously looked into," following the recent shootout between supporters of two opposing political camps.
La Libertad town is listed among the areas of immediate concern due to the existence of armed men utilized by politicians.
Recently, Yanga's group arrested four followers of a mayoralty bet and filed illegal possession of firearms charges against them in court.
Yanga urged the public to cooperate with the police to prevent further election violent incidents in La Libertad town.
The other area that is being seriously looked into by the ZPPO is Dimataling town in Zamboanga del Sur.
Last month, the house of the Dimataling mayor was pounded with rocket-propelled grenade allegedly by supporters of an incumbent town executive.
Following the incident, Dimataling was placed on the list of areas of immediate concern in the region for the forthcoming elections.
Aside from the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, ZPPO covers the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Isabela and Zamboanga.
