Garma on Osmeña’s 10-day deadline: It’s childish way of solving something

By: Morexette Marie B. Erram - 5 years ago

BARANGAY SINSIN AND SUDLON II, CEBU CITY

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The tension between Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu City Police Office director, Police Colonel Royina Garma is not yet over.

This time, the two officials exchange another fresh round of tirades over the two strafing incidents that occurred in two, neighboring hinterland villages in the city, on Thursday dawn, April 4.

For her part, Garma slammed Osmeña’s challenge for the police to wrap up the investigation on the strafing incidents involving the houses of the barangay captains in Sinsin and Sudlon II.

“It’s a childish way of solving something,” she said.

Garma also criticized the mayor for threatening to withdraw the city’s support to the police if they would fail to wrap up investigations before the deadline would be up, and accusing that the police might have a hand in the two strafing incidents.

“Buti pa siya (Osmeña) may conclusion … Para kaming tinatakot. I-pullout, i-pullout, i-pullout. Instead of asking ‘hey, what happened?’ ‘Nahirapan ba kayo sa investigation?’ ‘What could we be of help?’” said Garma.

(Good for him (Osmeña), he already has a conclusion on the case. If felt like he is threatening us. You pull out, you pull out, you pull out. Instead of asking us ‘hey, what happened?’ ‘Are you facing difficulties in the investigation?’ ‘What could we be of help?’)

“You want a good investigation, you should never be pressured. You cannot rush investigation and sabi ko sa yo the success of the investigation kailangan nandoon yung cooperation nang police at the community,” she added.

(You want a good investigation, then you should never be pressured. You cannot rush the investigation, and I tell you, the success of the investigation would require the cooperation of the police and the community.)

Meanwhile, Garma encouraged barangay officials involved in the incidents to cooperate with investigators in order to identify and capture the suspects.

“I already gave guidance to check on personal or political (motives), and talk to barangay captains and look for CCTVs (closed-circuit television cameras) na malapit dun,” Garma said.

The tension between Osmeña and Garma sparked in 2018 after a policeman was killed by the bodyguard of Tejero Barangay Councilor Jessielou Cadungog in T. Padilla Extension in Cebu City. The police officer, identified as PO3 Eugene Calumba, was accused of attempting to kill Cadungog./dbs