MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has appealed to the Bureau of Customs to deputize other law enforcement agencies like the police and military to strengthen the campaign against smuggling.

Salazar made the appeal as she urged anew the customs bureau to clean-up Zamboanga City of smuggling activities.

Salazar said that smuggling is one area of concern that has become perennial and nagging this city.

“I am really against any form of smuggling in the city of Zamboanga because the government coffers must be paid for accordingly by [these] goods coming in,” she declared.

Among the goods being smuggled into Zamboanga City are rice, sugar and other food and non-food items.

“We are willing, able and ready to help clean up our city because we love our city.” She lamented that the problem lies with the customs bureau because it lacks personnel and even vehicles, and yet it continually refused to deputize the police and military.

She said they can only clean Zamboanga City if the customs bureau will deputize other friendly law enforcers like the local police and military to run after the smugglers. (SunStar Philippines)