| Written by Provincial Press Bureau,
on 07-09-2007 14:32
|
Views : 338  |
Favoured : 12 |
Published in : The News, News Around the Region |
Tags : municipalities, responsibility, uncontrollable, collaboration, misconception, organizations, nevertheless, presentation, neighboring, nonetheless, |
Zamboanga Del Sur is 101 percent safe to host this year’s Regional Tourism Exposition dubbed as Biyahe Na! Zambosur.
Governor Auring E. Cerilles gave this assurance to the media in a press conference last Saturday, September 1, shortly after the presentation of the 9 candidates vying for the Ms. Zamboanga del Sur 2007 title at Hotel Alindahaw here.
“Let us not talk about bombings and any terroristic act, let us enjoy this memorable event,” Cerilles said, adding that the security measures at the Biyahe Na! sites are in place. Cerilles said she understands the public’s anxiety amidst the recent bombing incident in Zamboanga City and frantic peace and order condition in Basilan. Nonetheless, this explains when she convened the Provincial Peace & Order Council (PPOC) on August 31 mainly to assess the peace and order situation of the province and the neighboring provinces as well as to raise awareness and vigilance on the encounter between the government forces and the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan and in the neighboring Sulu Province that remains to be critical up to the present. The Governor who chairs the PPOC firstly got the guarantee from law enforcers. Tabak Division’s 102nd Infantry Battalion Commander Jovencio Magalso underscored that there is a public misconception about the conflict in Basilan.
He pointed out that it is not a total war contrary to what has been perceived but it is only punitive in nature as we only run after the Abu Sayyaf Group responsible of the beheading and barbaric act the deed to 10 soldiers last July 10. “Still, we observe the supremacy of the peace process with the MILF,” Magalso elaborated. Nevertheless, Magalso did not discount of possible spillover of Basilan conflict to its neighboring provinces, yet he emphasized that it is less alarming in Zamboanga del Sur than in Zamboanga Sibugay due to the proximity from Basilan. He said, “Ipil will be hit if the situation in Basilan becomes uncontrollable”. The 102nd Infantry Brigade is based in Sanito, Ipil. Magalso said his area of responsibility covers Zamboanga Sibugay, all the municipalities in 2nd District of Zamboanga del Sur, Pagadian City, Labangan, Tukuran in District I which are under the immediate lookout of the 53rd Infantry Battalion based in Guipos, this province. On the other hand, PNP Provincial Director Ramon M. Ochotorena revealed that the peace and order condition in Zamboanga del Sur is manageably peaceful; albeit confronted with internal security concerns, such as: the CPP/NPA, MILF, ASG, other lawless elements. This relative peaceful ambiance in the province is attributed to a renewed collaboration and support from the Local Government Units, AFP, religious sector, and other civic/cause-oriented organizations. Last update : 10-09-2007 14:32
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