By
Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY - In the midst of the current peace, order and security
situation that the city and neighboring provinces are facing, the public is
reminded never to wear police or military uniforms, or camouflage fatigues and
combat khakis in public.
Task
Force Zamboanga (TFZ) Commander Col. Adrelino Colina, in last week’s radio
interview emphasized that “it is against the law for any non-member of the
armed forces or police to don these uniforms as they can cause confusion among
the public.”
Col.
Colina asserted that notorious elements with questionable intentions would wear
such uniforms to pretend that they are members of the armed forces or police in
carrying out their nefarious plans.
The
task force commander instructed his personnel to immediately accost any person
who is caught wearing the uniform.
The
wearing of police and military uniform or insignia is a criminal offense
punishable under Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, by “arresto mayor”
carrying a penalty of one month and one day to six months detention.
In
the past several weeks, Zamboanga residents have expressed anxiety over the
peace and order problem here and in the neighboring provinces and cities.
Explosions, abductions and shooting incidents have been occurring since last
month.
Meanwhile,
20 improvised explosive devices were discovered in a house in Basilan last
week, allegedly prepared by the Abu Sayyaf Group.
Amid
these pressing concerns, Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar
called on not only the police and military, but the residents as well to be
very vigilant and extra cautious. She emphasized that everybody’s alertness in
this issue, particularly in reporting suspicious persons and activities will
save lives.
Col.
Colina said that the TFZ already presented the city government a proposal to
have civilian “force multipliers” to assist them in securing peace and order in
the barangays since their numbers are very limited as against the vastness of
the city.
“We need inputs to
fine tune the plans that we have already prepared. As always, we need
communication, coordination and cooperation from the communities to efficiently
and effectively keep Zamboanga safe and secured,” Col. Colina said. (PIA9)