ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 3 (PIA) – Amidst terror threats including the recently-foiled bomb plot here, Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar reiterated her earlier request to President Rodrigo Duterte to place two permanent combat-ready military battalions in the city.

During a live interview via the Presidential Communications Operations Office’s (PCOO) Laging Handa Network Briefing News on Monday (January 3), Mayor Climaco-Salazar said that this request is even more necessary now, as the city has experienced a terrorism threat.

“The 90mm bomb was ready for detonation, and it had a destroying capacity of 10-kilometer radius,” she said. On December 22, security authorities foiled the bomb plot following intelligence reports.

The mayor said that one suspect is already in the custody of the authorities, while his cohorts are still being tracked down. Mayor Climaco-Salazar identified the Abu Sayyaf group from Basilan province to be behind the plot.

The city has remained on high alert since the holidays.

“We are thankful to the security forces for thwarting this plot and preventing a tragic incident, and we will fully utilize our resources to support the police and military,” she said as she calls on sustained vigilance from residents amidst the threats of terrorism and COVID-19. (RVC/DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City, photo courtesy of City Government of Zamboanga)