No allowances to new city cop chief, policemen: Osmeña

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he won’t give allowances to newly assigned policemen including the new chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) during Friday’s press conference.

He said the national government should take care of the new officials’ allowances and added he won’t cut the allowances of the old policemen in Cebu City.

“Manila na lang bahala ana (will take care of it),” he said.

Osmeña also issued a letter addressed to Cebuanos saying that he will no longer be directly involved in the anti-drug programs in the city and will instead focus on solving other issues like traffic, garbage, medical and budget pruning.

“Rest muna ako (campaign on illegal-drugs). I will realign my energy to traffic, garbage, medical and budget pruning,” he wrote.

Osmeña said he is firm on his decision that he will no longer be directly involved in police activities.

He said he meticulously built an anti-drug program only to be dismantled.

“It’s stressful to say the least. Worse, I don’t think I can, at this time, muster the energy to build a new anti drug ‘fortress’ thinking that history will repeat itself,” he said.

Osmeña said he hopes the new police commanders will do a better job.

“But let me give you my biased opinion. I have served as your mayor for at least five terms. The last batch of commanders, from Gen. (Patrocinio) Comendador to City chief Benjie Santos, were the best I have worked with,” he said.