ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has ordered anew the arrest of rice smugglers dropping her name and that of her family or other city officials to hasten illegal transactions.

This, as the mayor received reports that there are scrupulous individuals who name drop to hasten their illegal activities.

“Anybody caught dropping my name and that of any government official, my family and husband must be apprehended and dealt with immediately,” Salazar emphasized

“This is the clear directive to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and all security sectors,” Salazar reiterated her order following the confiscation of thousands of bags of rice during a recent operation by security forces in partnership with the Bureau of Customs in the village of Recodo, this city.

Lieutenant Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said there were some 4,380 bags of rice that were seized in Recodo based on the actual inventory of the cargo.

Salazar said she wants this city cleared of smuggling and that the authorities concerned should focus on the same objective pursuant to the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.