VM Labella seeks order naming him as Tom’s PCAC rep

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella (center) meets with members of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) at City Hall.

After holding an “informal meeting” with members of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) on Thursday, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella is seeking a formal appointment designating him as the mayor’s representative to the PCAC and that this should be reconvened.

After the meeting, Labella wrote to the mayor to report to him their discussions.

“I am humbly recommending for the formal convening of the PCAC and the appointment of the Chairman for the Council to proceed with its bi-monthly meetings as stated in the abovementioned ordinance,” read the vice mayor’s letter.

Reason for meet

Labella also cited the reason for holding yesterday’s meeting with PCAC members.

“I requested and summoned the institutions as mandated under Ordinance 2389 to attend the preparatory meeting for me to be able to give a report to the mayor and also give recommendations so that we can deal on issues like jail congestion, health of jail inmates and other concerns,” Labella said.

He also clarified that he called yesterday’s meeting after Mayor Osmeña made verbal pronouncements last month that he would just allow Labella to reconvene the PCAC.

During the previous administration of former mayor Michael Rama, Labella was appointed as head of PCAC, which was put on hold by Osmeña when he assumed as mayor last year.

But Osmeña said in an interview yesterday that if Labella would respect his verbal instruction, then he would not need to make a formal order designating Labella as his representative to the PCAC.

Osmeña said it is Labella’s chance to manage the council’s concerns.

He said he was giving Labella a chance to do something positive for peace and order.

He also said that Labella can run the PCAC; however, he will still sit as the chairman.

Reconvene PCAC

After yesterday’s “informal meeting,” Labella also wrote Osmeña discussing the need to already reconvene the PCAC so that they could discuss the peace and order issues in the city.

One of the reasons for the need to reconvene the PCAC is that the National Police Commission in Central Visayas (Napolcom-7) would need the PCAC’s recommendation and endorsement for three representatives in the People’s Law Enforcement Board (Pleb).

The Pleb is a quasi-judicial body that would determine the culpability of certain police officers facing administrative charges.

Labella also said that he would have no problem if the mayor would choose another person to head the PCAC, but he would also comply if the mayor would still allow him to head the PCAC.

Tumulak

Labella even suggested Tumulak, who is the deputy mayor on police matters, to head the PCAC.

When sought for comment, Tumulak said he would just leave it to Mayor Osmeña to decide on whom to appoint as PCAC head and if whether the PCAC should be formally convened.

Tumulak also pointed out that there is already another body formed by the mayor through an executive order, which is the Peace and Order Council (POC).

Tumulak is a member of the POC which is headed by the mayor’s representative, former City Councilor Jun Pe./With Correspondent Inna Gian Mejia