THE U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force and the Philippines’ National Intelligence Coordinating Agency conducted a training for the personnel of the Zamboanga City Surveillance and Security Coordinating Office to help them enhance their skills as operators.
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| Photos released by the Zamboanga City Surveillance and Security Coordinating Office show the personnel manning the command center and their trainers. |
A statement from City Hall said the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency headed by Deputy Regional Director Bonifacio Plugo trained the SSCO personnel on Behavioural Analysis, Intelligence among others.
City Hall did not release the names of the American trainers, but posted their photos on the government’s social media page.
Christopher Mandi, head of the SSCO,
thanked the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force and the National
Intelligence Coordinating Agency for the training, saying they are now better equipped.
Just last month, Mayor Beng
Climaco commended
the personnel manning the SSCO for helping authorities monitor the security situation after
inspecting the command center to ensure that the system is operational and functional as
part of the city’s security preparedness program.
She said the SSCO
has over the years demonstrated its capabilities in the police
investigation and resolution of various crimes here, adding it is steadfast in
its commitment to provide investigators with material information that
ultimately led to resolution of numerous incidents, apprehension of crime
suspects, and recovery of stolen properties, among others, including monitoring
of traffic situation.
The modern SSCO contributed in solving and preventing crimes and coordination with the police and military. The SSCO is Climaco’s brainchild as security remains one of her top priority programs.
Former
Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Police Director, Brigadier General Jesus Cambay,
Jr. who visited the SSCO in 2020, was impressed by its operation. Cambay
was briefed on the SSCO’s accomplishments since its establishment in May 2019
and maintained 24/7 operations amid the Covid-19 pandemic to keep Zamboanga
safe and secured.
A
simulation exercise was also held during Cambay’s visit to show to the official
the SSCO’s capabilities to monitor, coordinate and respond during
emergencies or incidents. Cambay commended the SSCO for its contributions
to the local police force which was awarded as “Best City Police Office” in the
country in 2020.
The
peace and order situation in Zamboanga has tremendously improved, especially in
the current administration of Climaco where she supported police and military
authorities and other law enforcement agencies, including at the barangay
level.
Climaco
said the installation of high-quality, high-definition security cameras in
different areas in Zamboanga was a big factor in maintaining peace and order,
and also the logistical support the local government provided the police and
military.
She
said the SSCO - the first in Western Mindanao and second in the southern
Philippines after Davao City - has a huge impact on the peace and order
situation, adding because of the state-of-the-art command center, the SSCO
continues to monitor different strategic locations here - day and night - where
security cameras are installed.
Climaco
said the local government installed over 100 security cameras as part of the
Security and Surveillance Equipment and System Project to ensure public
safety.
The system, she added, uses Huawei’s intelligent video and data analytics solution. The SSCO - operated by over a dozen personnel - complements the local emergency telephone hotline 911. It was only during Climaco’s time that all these security programs were implemented for the benefit of the residents. (Zamboanga Post)