- Mayor Beng Climaco has formally filed with the Department of Justice her strong opposition to the plea bargaining proposals of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels charged with rebellion and violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for leading and participating in the Zamboanga siege in September 2013. The plea bargaining proposals if granted will reduce the rebellion and IHL charges to mere sedition, illegal assembly and illegal use of uniform, respectively, which carry with them much lesser penalties or punishments.
- Tuesday, June 23, marks the birth of the Chavacano language in Zamboanga pursuant to Ordinance 374 designating every 23rd of June as the ‘Dia de Fundacion Chavacano.’ Aimed to celebrate culture and history, the ceremony will kick off with a program at the Plaza Rizal starting at 8am with Mayor Beng Climaco and members of the City Council spearheading the activity. Highlighting the celebration will be three competitions centered on the Chavacano language – the Chavacano Debate Exhibition at 1 p.m. at the PIO Press Briefing Room and the Battle of the Bands and the Awarding of Cine Chavacano film and animation festival at 7 p.m. at Centro Latino in Paseo del Mar. Dia de Fundacion Chavacano celebrates the founding of Chavacano language in June 23, 1635 when the cornerstone of Fort Pilar was first laid.
- Zamboangueño athletes who hauled medals during the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore on Monday expressed jubilation as the City Government rolled out a red carpet welcome for their achievements and for bringing pride and honor to the city and the country as a whole. Feted were gold medalists Chezka Centeno (billiards) and Eumir Felix Marcial (represented by Marcial’s father) (boxing) and bronze medallist Albashier Ibnohasim of the pencak silat event. Softball players Sonny Boy Acuña, Orlando Binarao, Emerson Atilano and Vermon Diaz who garnered a gold medal failed to make it to the ceremony due to conflict in schedule.
- The Office of City Environment and Natural Resources has increased its collection routes from 22 to 25 to ensure a more efficient and effective waste management system. The office is also slowly adopting a night-shift schedule for waste collection, noting that waste collection is more convenient when done in the evening. In the last week, two waste collection units have begun following the night-shift schedule which ran from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
- The National Coast Watch Council Secretariat (NCWS) will conduct an Inter-Agency Information Exchange Meeting at the Garden Orchid Hotel on June 23 to solicit inputs for the development of Maritime Security Plan to counter kidnap for ransom incidents as well as to provide awareness to maritime stakeholders in the area on the National Coast Watch System. The NCWS was established through EO 57 to serve as the central inter-agency mechanism for a coordinated and coherent approach on maritime issues and maritime security operations towards enhancing governance in the country’s maritime domain.
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