Rama hits Crame for shipping Romana out

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama congratulates his erstwhile chief of police, Senior Supt. Noli Romana, who was given a send off at City Hall yesterday.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

In sending off Senior Supt. Noli Romana, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said his chosen police chief has earned “his trust and confidence.”

He also had some choice words to Camp Crame, whom he accused of being unprofessional.

“This has to be brought to the attention of the people. There seems to be an absence of a semblance of professionalism in the PNP. His (Supt. Noli Romana) name was inserted without his permission and without him applying for the post,” the mayor told reporters after the relinquishment ceremony at City Hall yesterday.

Despite being promoted, Romana was not accorded a turnover of command ceremony at the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. in Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.

Rama revealed  he spoke to  suspended PNP Director General Alan Purisima last week about Romana’s transfer. Last Dec. 4, the PNP issued a reassignment order for Romana, to move out of  the Cebu City Police Office and transfer to the Civil Security Group in Camp Crame.

While Romana said the transfer can be considered a promotion, Rama described it as “kicking him upstairs.”

Accomplishment

In his speech, Romana said he’s thankful to Mayor Rama for his trust and confidence in him and for the chance to serve Cebu City.

Romana also said he managed to achieve “three years worth of accomplishments” in his one year and four months stint as city police chief especially in his campaign against illegal drugs.

He said there were also no casualties and cases against the police during his time. “I leave you with a unit that I can be sure any other city will be proud of,” Romana said to policemen during the ceremony.

Senior Supt. Conrad Capa, the deputy regional director of the PRO-7 who was designated  acting Cebu City police chief, was unable to attend yesterday’s ceremony due to an illness.