OFFICIALS of Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay province have joined forces to protect their boundaries from lawless elements.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said Saturday that he and Tungawan Mayor Randy Climaco have decided to put up a Police Action Center (PAC) in the border of Licomo village.
Licomo, located 85 kilometers east of Zamboanga City, is the last village of Zamboanga City in its boundary with Tungawan town in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
Policemen from Police Station 1 of the Zamboanga City Police Office and from Tungawan town would jointly man the PAC, which was formed to ensure the protection and safety of inter provincial passenger buses and the residents in the area.
Lobregat and Climaco decided to put up the PAC after rouge Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels staged an ambush last January 16 in Sitio Tigbungabong, San Pedro village, Tungawan town, which is just few meters away from the boundary of Zamboanga City.
The bus from the Rural Transit Management Inc. was carrying 39 passengers and was en route to Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur, when the ambush occurred.
Twelve people, including the municipal health officer of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte, were injured in the ambush.
The police said robbery was the motive behind the attack. The perpetrators were identified to be the group of Commander Yacub Iyong also known as Commander Boteh.
Lobregat said the PAC will also house the military troops that will back up the policemen in securing the boundaries of Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay.
He said it will also house inspectors from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture.
The mayor also said that close coordination has to be established between the local government units and the military and police forces of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City to ensure the efficient implementation of the security measures.