By Sheila
Covarrubias
ZAMBOANGA
CITY,
Apr. 24, (PIA) - - True to its commitment to continuously support and assist
law enforcement agencies for public safety and security, the city government is
purchasing 83 more firearms—the fourth batch of rifles purchased for the City
Police Office since 2010.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said the purchase of
the rifles forms part of his administration’s thrust to help upgrade the
capability and equipment of the members of the City Police force.
Costing a total of P4.9 million, the
funding for the 83 units of high powered rifle Sam Trailblazer M4 rifles is
included in the 2011 Executive Budget of the City. Each unit costs P60, 000.
Delivery of the purchased rifles is set as soon as all documents are processed.
In 2010, the city purchased a total of 116
armalite rifles in 3 batches which were turned over to the police on two
separate occasions. The first 50 rifles were turned over to the ZCPO on March
25, 2010 with then Police Director General Leandro Versoza as guest of honor.
The second set of 66 units was turned over last January 11, 2011 in simple
ceremonies at the ZCPO headquarters with Local Government Secretary Jesse
Robredo as guest.
Mayor Lobregat has emphasized that peace
and order has always been and will always be the priority of his administration
and that the support and assistance to the local police and other law
enforcement agencies will not stop for as long as he is the chief executive.
The authorities with the support of the
local government are doing everything they can to sustain peace and security in
the city, he said.
He said the local government will continue
to use its resources to help improve the capability and equipment of the police
and other law enforcement agencies.
Aside from firearms, the city government
also constructs police action centers, fire stations and detention cells,
provides vehicles and fuel and even allowances to law enforcers. (JPA/SC/CIO/PIA 9-ZBST)