Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will not let the issue of the unsolved killings in the city ‘sitting down’ despite criticisms hurled against him by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The President is entitled to say whatever he wants. As a lawyer, I am sure that he knows there are two sides to any story, and not just what Dino (Presidential Assistant to the Visayas Michael Dino) and PRO-7 (Police Regional Office – 7) are telling him,” Osmeña said in a Facebook post.
He added that he will not let Mr. Duterte’s harsh words affect him in doing his job as the local chief executive, especially on the peace and order situation of the city.
“The first step in solving a problem is to admit there is a problem, and if the police refuse to admit there is a problem because “Cebu is still safe,” then they are only making it worse,” he explained.
“If I have to be the bad guy for mentioning that there is a problem, so be it. No problem, this is what I signed up for,” he added.
In his speech during the 49th Charter Day of Mandaue City, President Duterte slammed Osmeña’s leadership style.
The President described the mayor as ‘hubris’ which is haughty or arrogant in English translation.
“Cebu City is not your property. It has never been your territory. You are there because you have a name,” said Mr. Duterte.