District 2 Congressman Erico Basilio “Erbie” A. Fabian yesterday made strong representation to the Police Regional Office to allocate more policemen, firearms and motor vehicles for the city police.

The message was relayed to Supt. Tomas Abellar, regional police comptroller who paid a courtesy call on the congressman in his congressional office at the House of Representatives.

Fabian, who sits in the Committee on Appropriations, vowed to support the PNP in the passage of their budget for the fiscal year 2011.

The police are still visibly outmanned, outgunned and outmaneuvered by lawless elements in the region, making law enforcement a very difficult task to carry out.

Zamboanga City alone, Fabian pointed out visibly lacks manpower to serve the city’s populace now approaching the 800,000 mark.

In an earlier interview, City Police Director Sr. Supt. Edwin de Ocampo admitted the city police is still undermanned.

It utilizes manpower from support groups such as the military’s Task Force Zambian and the para military groups in the barangay.

Budget deliberations started yesterday, August 31, as the House resumed sessions after yesterday’s one-day holiday break.