Strengthened response capability urged

MAYOR Celso Lobregat has underscored the need to strengthen response capability of the different law enforcement agencies designated to guard the coast line of Zamboanga City and the neighboring areas.

Lobregat said enhancement of security and peace and order plan should take into consideration the location and geography of this city.

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"We have a very long coast line and so the entire sea lane becomes a highway," Lobregat said, pointing out that numerous incidents happen at sea, the latest of which was the abduction of fish farm caretaker Vicente Barrios.

"This means to say that the kidnappers are having a hard time conducting criminal activities on land and so the whole sea becomes their highway," Lobregat added.

He said there is a need to have a coordinated effort in terms of response and facilities between the agencies tasked to safeguard the coastlines such as the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coastguard, Special Action Force, Maritime Police and many others.

"All of these have sea assets so we have to make sure that when an incident happens the reporting time is up to the barest minimum and all units can respond and should respond immediately," Lobregat said.

Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Benjamin Mohammad Dolorfino proposed the creation of a multi-sectoral committee that would address security-related problems that require sustained non-military and military intervention.

Dolorfino presented the proposal during the multi-sectoral stakeholders' convergence for peace and development and security conference last Tuesday.

Lobregat welcomed the idea though he suggested the enhancement of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) to further strengthen the campaign against kidnapping and the spate of killings in the villages of Talon-Talong, Mampang, and Arena Blanco.

Aside from the CPOC, the City Government, based on existing laws, has organized local councils or committees with members from the civil societies as members.

Members in such mandated committees pass through certain accreditation process, as prescribed under the law.

"It is true the City Government, the police and the military cannot solve peace and order problems alone, thus, we need the cooperation of the community," Lobregat added. (Bong Garcia)