ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - - The city government turned over at least 75 M4 assault weapons to enhance the anti-terror capability of local police in a bid to erase security doubts about this port city which has suffered from various travel warnings issued by foreign countries.
The turn over was sealed Wednesday with the formal signing of deeds of donation between outgoing mayor and 1st district congressman-elect Celso Lobregat, Police Regional Office 9 (PRO) director Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño and City Police director Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo at the City Police Headquarters.
The M4 rifle, which has a reputation as an excellent weapon, has now become the preferred weapon among police forces for special operations.
The brand new assault rifles have brought the number to 274 units of M14 assault weapons donated by the city government to the city police office since 2010 in an effort to increase and enhance the capability of the police forces.
“I am calling on the police to put into good use these weapons and use these only against criminals,†Lobregat said at the turn over ceremony.
Lobregat’s administration was regarded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as one of the best local government units in the country that provided support to police forces.
The US government has issued a travel warning a few weeks ago urging its citizens to stay away from a number of cities including Zamboanga City owing to terror threats.
The city government was dismayed by the travel warning which came t a day after US Ambassador Harry Thomas made his visit to the city to inaugurate a US-sponsored project.
Chief Superintendent Vaño, for his part, said the additional weapons would enhance the capability of the police forces in the fight against criminality and terrorism.
“We have to give our service back to Zamboanga by exerting more efforts in upholding the law,†Vaño added.