At the time outgoing Cebu City police chief Senior Supt. Noli Romana was relieved and given another assignment, he was given a mandate to ensure that commercial establishments won’t be victimized by robbers following a string of robberies that occurred in broad daylight.
He even promised to resign if three precinct police chief at any time are relieved by Mayor Michael Rama. The mayor, taking a direct hand in the spate of holdups, set a one-strike policy in a meeting with the police force last Nov. 14. If a robbery occurs in a 24/7 establishment, the station commander would get booted, he said.
Romana upped the ante and said he himself would step down if three stations chiefs were taken out. The countdown had barely begun when the order from Camp Crame came.
With his relief and reassignment as ordered by recently suspended PNP Director General Allan Purisima, Romana is spared from having to make good on his promise to resign from his post.
In fact, Romana’s reassignment is considered a promotion. “From what I heard, he will be made Deputy Director for Operations of the Civil Security Group. It’s like a promotion. It’s comparatively his highest position in his career,” said Supt. Alet Virtucio, CCPO’s deputy director for administration.
Still, the fact that the reassignment was stamped by PNP Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., who had opposed Romana’s assignment as Cebu City police chief during his tenure as Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 chief, raised eyebrows . Was this poetic justice?
Romana was appointed Cebu City police chief on the mayor’s insistence despite Garbo’s recommendation against it due to the candidate’s spotty record as the former provincial police director in Negros Oriental.
With Romana out, Mayor Rama has accepted the transfer and will get to choose a replacement from nominees in a list to be given by Camp Crame.
The mayor knows it’s not just about his personal preferences – though that plays an important part – but a sound evaluation of who’s the most capable police officer out there who can take on the job and do it well.
Even with Romana gone, this shouldn’t send a signal to criminal elements that they can pounce on Cebu City’s residents or its commercial establishments during this holiday season.
The change of command will have an impact on the city police’s security preparations not just for the Christmas and New Year celebrations but also next month’s Sinulog festival.
We trust that those who’ve been assigned for sometime in Cebu City know the drill, and will undertake the massive security measures already in place for years past, to ensure the continued peaceful observance of t he city’s annual event.
Unlike public officials who are more difficult to weed out if they are corrupt and non-performing assets, police officers know that their time in the service is limited and subject to the restrictions of the service.
Romana had his time and now someone else will replace him.
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