Cellphone snatchers and police visibility

(Published in Zamboanga Today on 12 February 2008.)


Some students have expressed concern over the growing number of incidents involving cellular phone loss through snatching at the downtown area of Zamboanga City, and parents are getting alarmed over the seeming non-action of the local police force.

The Zamboanga City Police Office under Col. Manuel Barcena however has not been totally lax about it. Policemen try to respond whenever there are policemen nearby, but these road thieves seem to be too slippery for the reach of the law. Hence, some sectors say there should be increased police visibility within the commercial areas of Zamboanga City. However, that's not just about it.

We hope that the active City Police Director will also look into stationing policemen within the vicinity of the commercial areas who are on constant guard for these daytime road thieves. Sometimes we hear reports that there were policemen visible, but they 'just stood there' and 'asked too many questions' hence giving so much time for the offenders' flight from the scene of the crime. While this could be possibly true, it is also probable that policemen on duty were ascertaining where to head next to be in pursuit of the offenders.

Yet, these theories could not be accepted by some Zamboangueños who believe that there should be peace and order here in Asia's Latin City, because Zamboanga cannot draw more visitors nor create a positive impression of being a good visiting site if lawlessness is 'tolerated' by passivity or weak police enforcement.

We do have faith in our local police force, 'though. In fact, we shall soon see the city's Police Watch Zamboanga honor deserving cops who are serving the city and the Filipino people well. In the meantime, we hope that the City Police Director would look into these collective cases and provide solutions to these complaints by some sections in the local citizenry. (FLC)