THE Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has tapped the village watchmen and radio groups as augmentation to the security forces in the observance of the Lenten season in the city.
Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo, ZCPO director, has placed the local police forces on alert to ensure the peaceful and solemn observance of the Lenten season.
“They are deployed to their respective places of assignment effective Wednesday,” Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo disclosed that they have deployed a total of 821-man security contingent, including 219 force multipliers comprising of village watchmen and members of the radio groups.
The radio groups’ members serve as partners of the law enforcers and emergency responders providing communication support, especially in far-flung areas.
Lorenzo disclosed that 385 of the 821-man security contingent are deployed in 33 churches across the city while rest at the Climaco Freedom Park in ABong-Abong, Pasonanca village, where the 14 Stations of the Cross is located.
The city government has open the Freedom Park to the public for the first time since the pandemic started in March 2020.
Police and village officials estimated that some 20,000 Catholic devotees gather every Holy Week at the park to pray at the 14 Stations of the Cross at the foot of Mount Pulong Bato.
Meanwhile, the bringing, selling and drinking intoxicating drinks, audio-video equipment and playing of loud music, wearing of hooded jackets, baseball caps, bringing of backpacks and bringing of firearms, bladed weapons and other similar items are prohibited on April 14 to 16 at the Freedom Park based on the executive order issued by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.
Salazar’s order also prohibits the flying of drones at the park during Holy Week except those from the police and military. (SunStar Zamboanga)