Osmeña: Grounds of revoking Napolcom deputation illogical

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña described as “very funny” the grounds relied upon by the National Police Commission in withdrawing his deputation as Napolcom representative and revoking his powers and prerogatives vested in him by the deputation.

One of the reasons stated in the Napolcom Resolution 2016-467 was that Osmeña decided to stop giving allowances and rewards to the new police officers assigned at the Cebu City Police Office.

“That means you gave it and you make bawi (take it back). But when you never gave it, that’s not withdrawal. And they are making such big thing about it. So how can they take away from me the appointing power when they never gave it to me? They just appointed somebody there,” he said.

He said he never withdrew any allowance to the police.

Osmeña said that all the reasons written stated in the Napolcom en banc resolution issued last August 10, were ridiculous and illogical.

It was the Napolcom regional office that investigated the mayor and recommended the withdrawal of his deputation to the Napolcom en banc, which did the resolution.

“(They say here that) I decided not to release the 15 patrol cars. Is that a crime? You want to see the logic? It’s simply like this. Because of that they withdrew my deputation? For example they ask ‘Mayor Osmena I’m requesting for your cellphone.’ If I don’t give it, they can punish me? Dili man sila tag-iya niana.(They don’t own it.) ‘Mr. Osmeña I want your air-con. I want the trousers you are wearing.’ If I don’t give it, they can punish me? That’s their logic.” he said.

“Axe to grind”

He said that Napolcom, in the resolution, also stated that he stopped giving allowances and rewards to the new police officers. He questioned why the new police officers should be given a reward.

Osmeña did not understand the logic of being punished and found guilty of not giving a reward to the new police officers.

The mayor expressed suspicions over the motives of Napolcom Regional Director Homer Mariano Cabaral, saying the latter might have an axe to grind against him.

He said Cabaral’s wife ran for barangay captain in Duljo Fatima, but he did not support her.

“And I’d like to ask Director Cabaral, if he is so self-righteous in this, how come he did not do anything to neutralize or capture (suspected drug lord Jeffrey Diaz) Jaguar, who was his neighbor? It’s walking distance (from his house),” he added.

He said that Cabaral has been living in Duljo Fatima for over ten years, and Jaguar also lived in the area for over ten years.

“For over ten years, do you think he has the moral standing to say ‘Oh I’m very anti-drugs!’ C’mon! Mao na iyahang silingan. (He [Jaguar] was his neighbor). As if he doesn’t know who Jaguar is. Everybody in Cebu knows who Jaguar is. Everybody in Duljo knows who Jaguar is. And he’s head of Napolcom in Region 7, and he does not know who Jaguar is?” he said.

Osmeña, who said he would be filing a motion for reconsideration, said he still has to decide whether it would be the Cebu City Legal Office or his private lawyer who would make the draft.

He added that he will address his motion to Napolcom.

Cebu Daily News tried but failed to contact Cabaral. A text message was also sent to his phone, but it remained unanswered.

Meanwhile, Osmeña said he pitied his police escorts who were relieved and transferred to Bohol.

“I don’t want to have police escort. Malooy ta basin adto nasad na sila sa Tawi-Tawi i-assign (The might be assigned to Tawi-Tawi),” he said.

He said that he does not see the need to have a police escort right now and refused to employ a body guard.