Rama distributes cars to police

Chief Insp. Wildemar Tiu, police station 4 chief, gets out of a Toyota Fortuner vehicle turned over to them by the Cebu City government. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

No discussion on the reshuffling of police precinct chiefs, only an announcement on the turnover of 10 vehicles for the city police was tackled in last Thursday evening’s command conference between Mayor Michael Rama and police chiefs.

Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos Jr., Cebu City police chief, said the meeting held at the mayor’s office at 11 p.m. discussed updates on the security preparations of the police for the May 9 elections.

“He (Mayor Rama) met with our people because he wanted to show his support for the maintenance of peace and order during elections,” Santos said.

He said four Toyota Fortuners and six Mitsubishi Adventure vehicles were turned over to the police, with more arriving today.

“The Toyota Vios distributed last year by Mayor Rama will be detailed to the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG),” Santos said.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of City Hall’s Peace and Order Program (POP), said 10 Toyota Fortuners worth P15 million and 18 Mitsubishi Adventure vehicles worth P18.45 million will be given to the police.

The purchase was taken from last year’s POP budget. The cars will be inaugurated by Rama at the end of next Monday’s flag-raising ceremony.

Last Wednesday’s command conference was held at the mayor’s office instead of Rama’s original plan to hold it at his home in the Rama compound in Basak San Nicolas.

Santos insisted that the meeting be held at a government office instead of the mayor’s home.

Rama ordered the police officials to be in full uniform, saying he called the meeting as a mayor and not as a reelectionist candidate.

“I requested guidance from the Comelec if it is possible that we can go to the mayor’s house. The Rama compound is their campaign headquarters and some may give political color to it,” Santos said.

Edwin Cadungog, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City South District election officer, said the distribution is not prohibited during the elections “since it had been planned before.”