THE Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula announced that the New Year’s celebration was generally peaceful.
Brigadier General Froilan Quidilla, PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said they have deployed 3,418 personnel in places of convergence, transportation, and route security.
Quidilla said they have confiscated some 3,080 illegal firecrackers throughout the region and recorded zero incident on firecracker-related injury with the strong implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 28.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued EO 28 on June 20, 2017 providing for regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices across the country.
Quidilla said the stray bullet incident is an isolated incident and the police in Isabela City are “doing their best to resolve the case.” The victim is a 13-year-old child from the village of Tampalan, Malamawi Island, Isabela City, Basilan.
He said the victim have undergone a minor surgery at the Zamboanga City Medical Center “and was discharged immediately in good condition.”
He thanked the public for the continuous strong cooperation and commitment for peace and security in the region. He also commended the local government, other law enforcement groups, force multipliers along with the police force and the partners in law enforcement for their sacrifice during the holiday season.
However, he said the full alert status remains and policemen are still in full force to secure the community.
Meanwhile, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has thanked the security sector to include firemen for their efforts to ensure that the city is safe during the New Year celebration.
Salazar likewise thanked the nurses, doctors and volunteers who were on duty amid the New Year revelry. (SunStar Zamboanga)