CIDG mulls filing charges against Osmeña for ‘carnapping’

Police Colonel Royina Garma said the impoundment of a motorcycle owned by a patrolman by Mayor Tomas Osmeña was illegal. | Delta Dyrecka Letigio

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is considering cases against Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña because of the alleged carnapping of a motorcycle owned by a patrolman at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) headquarters on Sunday dawn, May 12.

Police Colonel Royina Garma, CCPO director, said that the impounding of the patrolman’s motorcycle based on the violations he allegedly committed such as wearing shorts and slippers, and not bringing his motorcycle’s OR/CR was illegal.

“CIDG is the one preparing the case. I don’t think the LGU (local government unit) is deputized to impound vehicles,” said Garma.

But Francisco Ouano, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) chief, said that the CCTO is mandated by a city ordinance to impound vehicles violating the city’s traffic regulations up to 30 days and even impose a fine for these violations.

Read more: CCTO chief: No carnapping happened, cop was given traffic citation

Garma also said that impounding the motorcycle was illegal because the mayor did not issue a proper citation ticket or impoundment document to Patrolman Romil Gelogo, who hails from Negros Occidental, upon his apprehension.

Osmeña confronted Gelogo whom he saw leaving the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday after he saw that the policemen was only wearing shorts and slippers to pair with his dark colored T-shirt and jacket.

The mayor said that he had Gelogo’s motorcycle impounded by the CCTO after he found that it also lacked side mirrors and registration sticker.

Gelogo alleged that Osmeña took his Honda TMX motorcycle and a Tag Heuer wristwatch worth P150, 000 that was kept on the tool box of his motorcycle.

Read more: Cop accuses Tomas of carnapping , stealing expensive watch

Ouano said that the motorcycle was safely under their custody, and that the patrolman could get his motorcycle back once he would present the proper documents and pay a fine of P1,000 for his violations.

“Makuha ra man gyod niya diri sa opisina. Naa ra man nato iya motor. Wala man to hilabti,” said Ouano.

(He can always get his motorcycle back, which is impounded in our office. His motorcycle is here, and his things had not been touched.)

Ouano said that the traffic regulations in the city would not exempt police officers who are off duty./dbs