PALMA
WHILE incoming Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña was proud to announce his P50,000 bounty for every drug lord or any criminal killed “in a legal way” by policemen, barangay tanods and even civilians as a way to warn lawless elements, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma had his own warning to give.
“You do not arrogate all the powers to yourself,” declared Palma against Osmeña’s cash incentive meant to lower the city’s crime rate by permanently disabling law offenders through “justifiable” killing.
Osmeña, in an earlier interview with Cebu Daily News, described a “legal” killing as one that would for example involve an ongoing robbery, “they come to the defense, then they shoot the robber.”
Osmeña added that no reward would be given if the suspected criminal is just arrested because to arrest a suspect is part of a policeman’s duty.
Aside from the P50,000 reward for killing criminals “legally”, Osmeña also offers P5,000 for wounding a suspect.
Fear may be employed to discipline people, Palma said, but leaders should know “how much fear must be used and to what extent.”
The 66-year-old prelate appealed to every elected official to uphold the rule of law and exercise their functions within the bounds of the law.
“These people know the law, the limits of their power, and understands that in a given government, we have to live within a certain ambit of the law,” said Palma in an interview after presiding over the Mass and blessing of the new altar and retablo of the San Nicolas Parish in Cebu City yesterday.
“There are things that can be done by the executive branch, but other things are performed by the legislative and the judiciary. There are principles that govern a decent society. And I’m sure our government officials know this,” Palma said.
He then asked leaders to discern and examine policies first before implementing them.
Previously, as mayor of Cebu City in 2004, Osmeña announced the creation of the so-called Hunters’ Team, a group of elite cops specially tasked to go after known criminals in order to suppress crime in the city.
From 2004 to August 2006, a total of 168 suspected or convicted criminals were shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in vigilante-style killings linked to what was widely believed as a death squad operating in Cebu City.
“In everything that we believe is good, we give our 100 percent support. But for policies that may not be in accordance with the precepts of law and are not good for society, for sure we (Church leaders) will manifest our concern and opposition if needed,” Palma said.
Palma added that while the Catholic Church supports and prays for all newly elected leaders, they also practice “critical collaboration” with government.
In a democracy, he said, people are given the chance to express their thoughts about the issue and all leaders must be willing to listen.
“We all desire a peaceful, decent and humane society,” Palma said.
“To be a leader is not an easy job. We would like to remind them that they are given honor and dignity as leaders. But they are also given the responsibility which is very serious. Overall, we wish for a peaceful and happy society with each one contributing good service,” Palma said.
911
Meanwhile, more than a month ahead of his assumption as the new top official of the Cebu City government, Osmeña is on a roll.
From reward offers for killing criminals to a short meeting he called with officials of the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) at his house in Barangay Guadalupe yesterday for a plan to whip-up a quick response scheme that would handle emergencies similar to 911.
According to CCPO operations head Chief Insp. David Señor, Osmeña discussed matters of security, telling CCPO officials of the need to quickly respond to any alarm regardless of the distance and the persons who called for help.
“Ang iya ra gyud instruction sa amoa kay to satisfy the people nga dapat paspas mi moresponde og alarma (His only instruction to us was to satisfy the people through quick response to alarms),” said Señor.
Aside from the Señor, the 20-minute meeting was also attended by CCPO Director, Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos Jr.; Deputy Director for Operations Supt. George Ylanan; Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB) chief Supt. Aileen Recla; and City Intelligence Branch chief, Supt. Michael Bastes.
In that meeting, Osmeña also recommended the revival of Oplan Pakigsandurot, an anti-crime strategy which used to integrate the deployment of policemen and barangay tanods.
“Ang scheme ana kay ang police mo-render og certain number of hours sa barangay diin siya nagpuyo (The scheme allows policemen to render a certain number of hours to the barangay where he resides),” Señor explained.
Osmeña posted a photo of the meeting on his Facebook page with the caption, “am now in a meeting with heads of the Cebu City police regarding integrating our police and barangay tanods, setting up 911 and many other things. Let’s make Cebu City safe again.”
The photo showed the incoming mayor and the police officers huddled around a table in conference, with some police officials taking down notes.
As of 10 p.m., the post garnered 13,000 likes, 2,716 shares and 717 comments.