Yt Framework

If given the chance to become mayor of Zamboanga City, Congressman Erbie Fabian yesterday disclosed his most urgent priority is to tackle and find solution to the peace and order problem besetting the city.

Fabian said much has to be done to achieve a stable peace and order and learning from the experiences of others will be of great help in addressing the problem here in our city.

This was the reason why during his recent trip to Davao City, he sought out and met with Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and spent hours discussing the subject of peace and order, especially on how the latter made a turn around on their way to establishing peace and order bringing stability to the region’s biggest city.

Duterte, who was former mayor, had been hailed as one of the iron fisted, no nonsense chief executive who cleansed the city of communist insurgents, criminal elements and wrongdoers and helped transform the city into the most progressive and vibrant city of the south.

Fabian maintained nothing major can be achieved until peace and order is restored to the streets of Zamboanga, is a staunch advocate of restoring order in the city.

Criminality has persisted in the city with rampant cases of shootings, robberies and other petty crimes occurring on an almost daily basis, the congressman noted.

The 2nd District Solon in fact has made peace and order his top priority in an effort to rid the city of criminal elements adding he wants the peace and order blue print patterned after that of Duterte.

A huge amount of resources have been poured by way of logistical aid to the local police through the purchase of more firearms, vehicles for mobility, two way radio transceivers for communication, funds for gasoline and ammunition, computers for the office and buildings for police sub stations around the city and yet crimes persists at a high level.

“Learning from success stories like that of Davao may shed light on how we can further improve the enforcement of laws and order and Mayor Duterte has been very helpful in offering intelligent insights on how they do things in Davao,” the 2nd District Solon added.

According to Fabian, achieving stability in the peace and order front will opened the flood gates to investors and visitors to come to Zamboanga City unafraid and confident they are safe while here.

“I have said and will say again, it has to start with stability and everyone has to pitch in and do their part in securing our city from malefactors," he continued.

Other than crimes, the illicit drug trade in the city is proving to be a major problem as most violent crimes are attributed to drug syndicates operating here.

This deadly menace must be dealt with and the heavy hand of the law must come down on these drug traffickers, stressing that drugs destroy the moral fiber of society and causes much pain and anguish among families, Fabian said.

He said it is not the task of the police and Task Force Zamboanga under Col. Buenaventura Pascual alone, but of all including the city government, the barangays and the entire populace as well.

By Nonong Santiago