Cebu City police chief Benjamin Santos says they are tasked to maintain peace and order as far as the recall of city-issued vehicles is concerned. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
THERE was no order issued by Cebu City Acting Mayor Margot Osmeña to arrest the barangay officials who refused to return their city-issued vehicles for inventory, Cebu City police chief Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos Jr. said yesterday.
But he said the General Services Office (GSO) asked for security assistance from them.
“The police presence is aimed at maintaining peace and order,” Santos said.
Upon learning of Santos’s response, City Councilor James Cuenco said it was up to City Councilor Philip Zafra to follow it up.
Zafra, who is also president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), could not be reached for comment.
Zafra and six other barangay officials returned their city-issued vehicles recently.
But Osmeña said she would leave it to her husband, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, to decide whether or not to drop the charges filed against them.
Santos’s statement came in the wake of Labangon barangay councilman Rodolfo Tabasa’s arrest for failing to return his city-issued vehicle.
GSO acting chief Ronald Malacora denied that two of his personnel had a hand in Tabasa’s arrest.
Malacora said the police asked him if he could send two personnel with them so they could identify the city-issued vehicle that was in Tabasa’s custody.
He said he asked his personnel to coordinate with the police./Ateneo de Manila University Intern Maria Lelaina R. Cardeño