THE Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) announced that 80.4 percent of the 56 shooting incidents recorded in the first six months of the year were solved and cleared, a top police official said Monday, August 14, 2023.
Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo, ZCPO director, said that 24 of the 56 shooting incidents were solved and 21 were cleared.
Lorenzo said the remaining 19.6 percent or 11 of the 56 shooting incidents are still under investigation.
A case shall be considered solved when the following elements concur: the offender has been identified; there is sufficient evidence to charge him; the offender has been taken into custody; and, the offender has been charged before the prosecutor's office or court of appropriate jurisdiction.
A case shall be considered cleared when at least one of the offenders has been identified; there is sufficient evidence to charge him; and, he has been charged before the prosecutor's office or any other court of appropriate jurisdiction.
Lorenzo said they responded swiftly in resolving these killings: immediate hot pursuit operation by station concern together with night rider “cuida” Zamboanga troops; intensified intelligence information through the collaboration of force multiplier, barangay officials, barangay intelligence network, barangay tanods; and, relentless follow up investigation to identify all suspects for filling of cases for the eventual issuance of a warrant of arrest.
Lorenzo said they are also strategizing every measure to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, and ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community.
Lorenzo condemns the act of killings as it compromises the safety and well-being of the people of Zamboanga City,
“With this, the ZCPO continues to deploy personnel through enhanced management operations based on crime statistics, crime clock, and crime map to determine areas that need police visibility,” he said.
Moreover, he said that a simultaneous anti- criminality law enforcement operation such as operation on a wanted person and execution operation of a search warrant to an individual who has in their possession unlicensed firearm or illegal drugs, and operation against smuggling and illegal gambling as well as Night Rider Cuida Zamboanga enforcement and dawn motorcycle cop patrollers are actively patrolling from night time to dawn to secure the peace and order of Zamboanga City.(SunStar Zamboanga)