City buys M4 rifles for police

THE local government is pursuing its assistance and support to the police force, as it is set to turn over anytime another set of firearms and transportation facilities to improve police capability and efficiency in Zamboanga City.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said 84 units of high-powered rifle Sam Trailblazer M4 rifles have been purchased, delivered and tested and scheduled to be turned over to the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) this month.

The purchase of the M4 rifles would be the third time by the City Government.

The first was 116 M-16 Armalite rifles purchased in 2010 that were turned over to ZCPO in three batches, and the second was last year when 83 rifles of the same caliber were purchased and turned over.

Lobregat said the City Government is also set to turn over several units of L-300 and multi-cab vehicles as a replacement to old and dilapidated transportation facilities and in addition to the existing fleet of police vehicles donated by the local government aside from the M4 rifles.

Lobregat vowed that the City Government’s commitment to support and assist the ZCPO for public safety and security remains steadfast and aggressive.

The City Government also constructs police action centers, fire stations and detention cells and even provides allowances to law enforcers aside from police firearms, vehicles and fuel.

Nevertheless, Lobregat said the efforts of the local police and the City Government will be for naught if the community or the public in general will not support the law enforcers.

Peace and security remains to be a multi-stakeholders’ responsibility, he added.

He also called on all police station commanders and all police personnel and staff to give their all-out support to the new officer-in-charge city director to ensure that all goals and objectives are met.

The ZCPO has 11 police stations and a public safety company covering Zamboanga City’s 98 villages, including eight island villages. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)