Village officials seek creation of police center

OFFICIALS of an east coast village in Zamboanga City is asking police officers to establish a detachment known as Community Police Action Center (Compac) to avert killings in their areas.

The request, made by Tagalisay village chief Hanisa Francisco, came after the killing of barangay councilman Asdali Mohammad, who was shot dead by a lone gunman.

Mohammad was watching television at his cousin's house when shot dead around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday by a still unidentified gunman, who immediately fled after the incident.

Francisco said that she and the other officials of Tagasilay have received death threats prior to the killing of Mohammad.

She said unidentified armed men were recently sighted roaming in their village.

The officials believe that the establishment of a Compac in Tagasilay will also ensure the security of the residents and would deter lawless elements from entering the village.

Mohammad, a first term and the number three councilman of Tagasilay, was the second to be killed in the place.

The first was Elmer Francisco, the village chief of Tagasilay, who was killed in October of 2009.

Elmer is the husband of Francisco, the incumbent village chief. (Bong Garcia)