MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has ordered the local police and Task Force Zamboanga to investigate and apprehend rice smugglers dropping her name and of her husband to hasten illegal transactions.
Salazar issued the order in lieu of reports that some unscrupulous individuals are dropping her name and other officials, including her spouse, to hasten illegal transactions.
Salazar met with Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Saturday, August 18, upon the latter's request, together with officials from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Coast Guard Zamboanga to discuss about the issue.
The mayor sought the help of the BOC on rice smuggling and to address issues of illegal traders dropping names of officials to pursue their activities.
Salazar said she was surprised to know that even Lapeña was not spared by smugglers who are out to discredit the BOC and its officials with the alleged infusion of a P20 million "sinking fund."
She called on concerned agencies not to honor or accommodate these unscrupulous individuals who drop her name and that of her family or other officials of the government for the purpose of expediting their illegal operations.
She likewise urged the public to immediately report to authorities, such instances where names of officials are dropped to carry out their illegal activities, which she said should never be tolerated. (SunStar Philippines)