Return of Tom’s authority over police means intensified war against drugs, says city dad

OSMEÑA

EXPECT a stricter enforcement of the law and an intensified war against crime and drugs with the return of the deputation power over the police of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“Because of the restoration of the police powers (of Osmeña), we can implement more intensive drug operations,” said Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the peace and order committee.

Tumulak said he spoke with President Rodrigo Duterte last Tuesday, who informed Napolcom (National Police Commission) Vice Chairman and Executive Director Rogelio Casurao through the phone to serve the memorandum (returning deputation powers over the police) to Mayor Osmena.

Napolcom earlier withdrew the city mayor’s authority through a notice received by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who was then acting mayor at that time, Mayor Osmeña was in the United States then.

‘Punished’

During a meeting attended by some mayors, governors, Philippine National Police Chief and Police Regional Office in Central Visayas Chief Noli Taliño, the President in a speech said that he “punished” a mayor in Central Visayas for allegedly taking away the supplies and resources that could be used by the local police.

The information was about Osmeña who allegedly took the supplies and resources from the police.

Tumulak said that he informed Duterte last Tuesday that the information that Duterte received about Osmeña was not true.
Tumulak said that he was glad that the mayor’s authority over the police was returned.

“Nagpasalamat ta nga nabalik ang deputation sa atong Mayor para magkatakdo ang mga programa para sa public order and safety sa atong siyudad,” said City Councilor Dave Tumulak.

Double efforts vs. crime

Tumulak said that Osmeña told him to continue and to double the city’s efforts in the programs against illegal gambling and petty crimes especially in the barangays.

He said that he also suggested to the mayor to give the extra vehicles to police stations to special task units such as Mobile Patrol Division and Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT).
“The Mobile Patrol Division needs 15 cars, but they only have six,” he said.

He also said that the mayor’s decision not to give allowances to new police officers assigned in the city was right because these were not included in the budget except for the police chief.

Tumulak also said he would recommend returning Colonel Doria’s allowance because of his accomplishments.
Cebu City was the top 3 performing region in drug operations, according to Tumulak.

Taliño reaction

Regional Police Chief Taliño for his part, welcomed the Napolcom’s decision to restore Osmeña’s authority over the local police.

“From the start, local government units are our partners. Our actions should complement each other so that the outcome would be good,” said Taliño in an interview.

He downplayed perceptions that the local police and Osmeña were at odds with each other, saying the Philippine National Police (PNP) fully supported the mayor’s peace and order programs.
“Walang away ang PNP at si mayor. (There’s no emnity between the PNP and the mayor),” he said.

“In fact, I instructed Senior Supt. (Joel) Doria to fully implement Cebu City’s peace and order programs. We fully support the city government’s programs,” he added.

The Napolcom en banc recently restored Osmeña’s deputation as their representative.

The Aug. 23 Napolcom en banc resolution was personally given by regional director Homer Cabaral to Osmeña at the Cebu City Hall at around 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Cabaral said Napolcom restored the mayor’s deputation powers due to the latter’s “reconfirmation and reaffirmation of support to the Cebu City Police Office, and the peace and order program of the President especially on illegal drugs.”

“I guess the restoration of his power has the blessing of President Rodrigo Duterte,” Cabaral told CDN over the phone.