Probe head quits post, but stays as market administrator

THE head of Cebu City’s Prevention, Restoration, Orderly, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team tendered her resignation on Tuesday.

Raquel Bohol-Arce said she wanted to allow Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña to pick someone he trusts to lead the office that she would soon vacate.

“Kana akong position, kinahanglan dunay trust and confidence sa mayor. Kahibaw man mo walay trust and confidence, lisod ba. Lisod both side namo nga magpabilin ko” (This position that I hold needs trust and confidence from the mayor. Knowing that there is no trust and confidence from him is difficult. It’s difficult for both sides if ever I choose to stay),” Arce said.

But Arce, also Cebu City Hall’s market administrator, clarified that she only resigned as Probe head. Acting Mayor Margot Osmeña simply shrugged when asked to comment on Arce’s resignation.

Osmeña said she still could not think of anyone to replace Arce. But she admitted that Arce may have to leave since she was an appointee of suspended mayor Michael Rama.

Osmeña said working with Probe is never an easy job because it involves demolitions, violence and the need to deal with resistance to demolition orders.

The office, she said, needed someone who can execute demolitions as humanely as possible. Arce was designated Probe Team Head on November 2012.

In her June 20 resignation letter, Arce said she was resigning to show respect to incoming mayor Tomas Osmeña and to allow a smooth transition of his administration.

Arce said she would also welcome whatever new assignment Osmeña would give her.

“Maghuwat ra ko asa ko nila ilabay. Andam nako modawat, of course, asa nila ko gusto i-assign” (I will just wait for their decision as to where to put me. I am willing to accept, of course, wherever they want to assign me),” she said.