‘Don’t spread lies!’ — Cebu City Mayor Osmeña

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña reads the National Police Commission’s memorandum removing his supervisory power over the Cebu City Police Office during a press briefing at his office at City Hall. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

MORE than a month after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced in a press conference last July 15 that he would not give the newly appointed city police director, Senior Supt. Joel Doria, the monthly allowance provided by the city to its police chief and withhold allowances for newly assigned policemen and no longer prioritize police for vehicle allocation as when before the police was accorded his highest priority, it was no longer in his “look into” priority status, Osmeña changed his tune yesterday.

“I never withdrew it. Don’t spread lies. What support did I withdraw?” Osmeña told reporters when asked if his visit to to the PNP regional headquarters last Monday was an indication that he would now give back his support to the police.

Osmeña dropped by the Police Regional Office headquarters (PRO-7) at past 7 a.m. on Monday just minutes before the start of a police anniversary program to “say hello”.

“I dropped by and said hello kay naa koy oras (because I had time),” Osmeña said adding that no serious concerns were discussed with PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño during his brief visit to the camp.

The mayor explained that he was at the Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC) for an early morning walk. When he could no longer take the heat of the sun, he said he decided to go to the PRO-7 headquarters since it was also in his schedule, though optional.

Osmeña said that when he got there, he and Taliño did not talk about any issue regarding him and the police.

“Pero naka-jogging pants man ko so I said hello and goodbye,” Osmeña said.

Cebu City Councilor Pastor Jun Alcover said that Osmeña’s appearance at the camp following weeks of bitter pronouncements over the relief of former Cebu City police chief Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos by Camp Crame showed that Osmeña’s conscience was now “eating him up.”

“Ang problema niya, mamakak man gud siya. Niingon siya nga wala daw siya ni-pull out? Ngano niingon man siya nga klaro man kaayo sa iyahang statements ngadto sa media nga ni-withdraw siya? (The problem with him is he lies. He said that he never pulled out? It was very clear that he told the media that he is withdrawing his support to the police)?” Alcover said.

Alcover added that it was this pronouncement by the mayor that became his basis for a privilege speech calling on Osmeña to give back his support to the police.

“Nakonsensiya na guro na siya. Maytag padayon na iyahang konsensiya (Maybe his conscience is now bothering him. I hope his conscience will continue to bother him),” the councilor said laughing.

Last month, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa apologized to Osmeña for any slight he may have done with his order to transfer Senior Supt. Santos.

“Pasensya na, sir, ug nahiubos ka ug gitangtang imong city director (I apologize, sir, if I have disappointed you for the relief of your city director),” dela Rosa said in a brief press conference with the media after his command visit to PRO-7.

Although he admitted that the police can survive without government resources and that they can also look for other sources of support, Dela Rosa urged Osmeña to reconsider.

“We really need you. Please don’t abandon us in this fight,” Dela Rosa said.

For saying that he would no longer support police operations, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) withdrew Osmeña’s authority over the police this month while Camp Crame also recalled three of Osmeña’s police bodyguards.