Zamboanga mayor joins call to reactivate militia force

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Feb 23): Zamboanga mayor joins call to reactivate militia force

MAYOR Maria Isabel Climaco-Salazar has joined the snowballing calling of local chief executives all over Mindanao for the return of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) to assist the police and military in the maintenance of peace and security, especially in crime-prone areas.

Salazar said all governors and mayors in Mindanao echoed the call for the return of Cafgu during the meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) chairpersons and vice-chairpersons Mindanao Cluster last February 15 in Sultan Kudarat.

Salazar, who chairs the RPOC for Zamboanga Peninsula said, for her part, that Zamboanga City needs the Cafgu to help the military secure the national highways, especially the Marangan-Muti stretch in the east coast of the city that has been prone to ambush and strafing incidents.

Last week, eight people were injured when a group of unidentified gunmen ambushed a passenger bus of the Rural Transit Management, Incorporated along the stretch of Marangan-Muti area.

 The incident occurred a day before the RPOC gathering in Sultan Kudarat.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, however, has yet to assess the necessity of Cafgu’s return as it is under its operational control and supervision.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2017/02/23/zamboanga-mayor-joins-call-reactivate-militia-force-527454