PPOC condemns harassment of military detachment in Labangan

Pagadian City– The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) condemned  the harassment of the AFP detachment at the junction of Labangan-Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur  at 1:00 A.M. today perpetuated by a  group of unidentified armed men.  The suspects, who were armed with high powered firearms  indiscriminately fired at the soldiers manning the detachment, thereby wounding M/Sgt. Samuel Companion, detachment commander.

In a Press Statement issued by 1^st Dist. Board Member Ernesto Mondarte,  said the harassment of the AFP detachment is an “act of cowardice and terrorism by lawless elements.”

“This is a clear manifestation that there are existing groups who wish to destroy the peace and order enjoyed by the people in the community,” Mondarte added.

A meeting was immediately  convened at 10:00 A.M. purportedly , to take precautionary measures,  and to strengthen  the battle against the lawless elements.

During the meeting, two resolutions were approved by the council.  One resolution expressing strong support to the AFP and PNP in their drive against lawless elements in the entire province, and the second, the establishment of  detachments in strategic areas in some coastal barangays of Labangan to prevent the entry of  lawless elements.

The PPOC, upon the directive of the chairperson, Hon. Aurora E. Cerilles, issued a statement ordering the authorities to hunt down and bring into justice the perpetrators.

Accordingly,  Cerilles was sad upon hearing the news because the lawless elements might carry their threat to further disturb the peace and order in the province.

“We call upon the people of Zamboanga del Sur to remain vigilant and calm as we expect the cooperation of everybody in the community to do his/her part to prevent further occurrence of harassments by lawless bandits,”  Mondarte said.(PIA-9, Pagadian)