Rama suspicious over reshuffling of cop chiefs
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, in a forum with media leaders, calls on local media to be vigilant in monitoring any unusual movements by police or groups during the election. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama voiced suspicion over the reshuffling of police precinct chiefs in the city barely two weeks ahead of the May 9 elections, saying it could be part of a plan to favor his political rival.
“In our local survey, it is now 11-0. In other words, no one from the other side will win unless they will do something,” Rama said during a roundtable discussion with Cebu media leaders.
Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos, Cebu City police chief, said the reshuffling of police precinct chiefs is done to avoid impressions of partiality or bias toward politicians or groups in their area.
“We cannot control the conduct of polls because we are only there for everybody’s safety and security — the protection of persons officiating the elections like the teachers, Board of Election Inspection (BEI) and election officers, candidates and voters,” said Santos in a text message.
During the forum, Rama said he was told by barangay chairpersons and some police officers that they were ordered to conduct surveys and campaign for Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas.
He also claimed that the police were also asking residents if they were for Team Rama or Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).
Rama said he is worried that there will be presence of uniformed men anywhere beyond what is allowable.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m crying wolf . . . but believe me, this election is not an ordinary election,” Rama said.
Rama said he was told by Santos via text message last Monday that the order came from Camp Crame.
He said he told Santos not to implement the reshuffling because as mayor, he is supposed to know about it first.
Rama said under the Local Government Code and the National Police Commission guidelines, the mayor is supposed to exercise operational supervision and control over the police.
He said the reshuffling was not also discussed with the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC).
Rama called on local media to be vigilant and monitor any suspicious movement during the elections.
Santos said none of his policemen conducted political surveys in Cebu City barangays.
“What we are doing is we conduct checkpoints and mobile patrolling. Mayor Mike said he will
release additional vehicles to further increase mobility of the police which is good for us,” he said.
Rama’s rival, former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña, vehemently denied the accusations and laughed at Rama’s claim of an 11-0 sweep for Team Rama in the elections.
Osmeña said he never used the police during his five terms in office, and former senator Panfilo Lacson, who served as head of the defunct Metrodiscom, can attest to it.
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