POLICE and military authorities assured the commuting public that national highways in the east and west coasts of Zamboanga City are safe for travel.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said this was the assurance issued by City Police Director Luisito Magnaye and Task Force Zamboanga Cihef Juvymax Uy during the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) meeting Thursday afternoon, February 16.
Salazar convened the CPOC and tackled the ambush of a passenger bus that injured eight passengers on Tuesday night in the village of Buenavista, this city.
The bus was traveling to Pagadian City coming from Zamboanga City when five unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicle.
“We will keep Zamboanga City safe, especially for everybody traveling the national highways to and from the provinces. The military also assured us that they will continue operating in the (ambush) area,” Salazar said, citing the presence of unidentified armed group in the area.
Salazar said she had instructed the police and military to pursue not only the perpetrators of the ambush incident but also the ones responsible for a previous shooting incident that killed one person.
Amid the hot pursuit operations by the police and military, Salazar appealed to all village officials to be responsive and “they should represent the interest of the City Government and not to represent the interest of the perpetrators.”