Lobregat lauds military as war vs terror goes “texting”
Mayor Celso Lobregat has commended the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command under Maj. General Benjamin Dolorfino with the launching yesterday of a new mode in the continuing war on terrorism dubbed “I-text mo si Sarge”.
The newest text campaign enjoins the public to text to authorities the presence of terrorists or any suspicious activities @ 0928-9944361.”
“This is really one of the moves to counter misinformation (about terrorism threats) that is sometimes going around,” Mayor Lobregat said of “Text Sarge,” adding that people nowadays are fond of texting “so the military is using the short messaging system or SMS as means of getting information and getting the general public involved in the security not only of Zamboanga City but the entire country as well.”
“Man text con Sarge el precencia del maga terorista,” Lobregat appealed in Chabacano as he urged the public to cooperate because security is everybody’s concern.
For his part, General Dolorfino in launching the “Text Sarge” program during the flag raising ceremony yesterday morning in City Hall said that all information sent to 0928-944361 will be treated seriously and acted upon after proper verification.
“El terorista perwisyo na comunidad. Man ayudahan kita para pwede kita cuhi kanila… termina con el maga acto de barbaridad… amo este el ta sangga progreso y paz,” the printed tarpaulin now hanging at City Hall balcony reads.
The launching of “Text Sarge” came as the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival heats up with series of activities in line with the Fiesta Pilar celebration on Monday, October 12.
After the launching in front of City Hall, a security conference for the month-long festival followed at the WesMinCom even as the military has downplayed terrorist threats purportedly as a result of the armed conflict in Sulu.
Dolorfino presided over the conference with police regional director Chief Supt. Angelo Sunglao, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, Task Force Zamboanga commander Col. Santiago Baluyot, city police director Sr. Supt. Amador Corpus and Mayor Lobregat, 3rd Air Division Chief Maj. Gen. Mario Lacon and Zamboanga Coast Guard Station Commander Abubakar Utulam in attendance together with several other top military and police officials.
Lobregat on Saturday night led the inauguration of the newly renovated Community Police Assistance Center (ComPAC) beside the Fort Pilar shrine through the initiative of Supt. Corpus.
During the inauguration, the chief executive announced that the city government under his administration has earmarked the sum of P2.4 million in financial assistance for the men and women of the Zamboanga City Police Office.
He said that starting next year (2010) the city government will be giving P700 monthly allowance to each police officer. The amount is P200 more than the 2009 allowance of P500 each.
Also present during the inauguration were regional police director Chief Supt. Angelo Sungalo, Task Force Zamnboanga commander Col. Santiago Baluyut, Councilors Eddie Saavedra and Nonong Guingona, and Supt. Corpus, who celebrated his birthday during the occasion, together with wife and daughter. (Vic Larato)