At least 100 police officers will augment the police force in Zamboanga City following the 37 shooting incidents recorded in the city from January 1 to April 30, 2024.

The data came from the Zamboanga City Police Office. 

Of the 37, at least 11 cases were solved, 16 were cleared, and 10 remain under investigation.

The local government said the shooting incidents have alarmed the public, prompting the local officials to seek help from the national government.

Mayor John Dalipe said he has asked President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for additional security forces to address the peace and security concerns of the city.

“Naikwento nako kay Presidente Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, nangayo ko og tabang para dugangan ang security forces. Nagkwento sab ko sa Secretary of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos. Positive sila, muhatag sila og tabang para dugang security forces dinhi sa ciudad de Zamboanga,” Dalipe said.

According to ZCPO, its 1,500 police personnel are not enough to serve the third largest city in the country.

“We are the third largest city in the country... it’s really very wide. We want to make sure that when we deploy our personnel we deploy them where they are really needed,” ZCPO Director, Colonel Kimberly Molitas, said.

Aside from the campaign against illegal drugs, the local police will also intensity its campaign again loose firearms, which is reportedly a contributing factor in the increase of shooting incidents in the city.

“Gusto po nating palakasin ang campaign against loose firearms because this is also contributory sa mga nagyayari dito sa city natin,” Molitas added.

Dalipe assured the public that the local government and the security forces are on top of the peace and order situation.

“We are in control, ayaw sila kabalaka kay ang city government of Zamboanga, ang Zamboanga city poice office, together with our task force Zamboanga, and MBLT-11 buhatun ang tanan aron ma stop ang mga nagbinuang, nagasabotahe sa atung peace and order,” Dalipe said.