ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga) has extended financial and livelihood assistance to kidnap victims, as well as distributed school supplies to children in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.
Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, the PRO-9 director, led the distribution of the financial aid and school supplies, during his visit to Zamboanga del Norte from Tuesday until Wednesday.
Beltran on Saturday told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the recipients of the financial and livelihood assistance were Roger Jung-an, 36; Jomar Maglangit, 26; Reymond Purisima, 14; Jomar Mantangan, 25; and relatives of Mario Rosales, 46.
Rosales was killed in the crossfire when troops clashed with the kidnappers in Sitio Kabatunayan, Barangay Panabutan, Sirawai on March 7.
They went to Sitio Maasum, Barangay San Nicolas, Sirawai, when the kidnappers led by Jamilon Wahab and Bating Lumiguis seized them.
The kidnappers abandoned the other four in Barangay Libucon, Sirawai on March 12 after soldiers and policemen had relentlessly pursued them.
Beltran also met with military, municipal, and village officials, religious leaders, members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during his visit to Sirawai.
Beltran was accompanied by Senior Supt. Raul Tacaca, the Zamboanga del Norte Police director, and other top police officials.
He encouraged those who attended the meeting to help the police in eradicating lawless elements as they discussed the peace and order situation in Sirawai.
He said a company from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-9 (RPSB-9) was deployed in the area to support the local police force in maintaining the peace and order in Sirawai town.
Beltran and his party also distributed school supplies to 100 pupils of Sirawai Central School and to 40 students enrolled at the Islamic School (Madrasa) in Barangay Sirawai Proper.
From Sirawai, Beltran also visited the nearby towns of Sibuco, Siocon and Tampilisan to oversee the security situation and talked to police officials and personnel of the three municipalities.
He proceeded to the town of Liloy where they held a command conference that was also attended by the chiefs of police in the province.
In particular, they discussed the overall performance of the Zamboanga del Norte Police.
The province of Zamboanga del Norte comprises 25 towns and two cities. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
