Initially, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña was so eager and active in running after drug lords and dealers here in the city and even granted a cash bounty to the police who killed any one of them.
Many welcomed this because they believed it was the only way to stop or minimize the illegal drug activities of drug dealers and syndicates that had become so bold and victimized so many people.
Thus the Duterte administration’s decision to prohibit mayors suspected of illegal drug ties of appointing their own police chiefs certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
As police officials were reshuffled and Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador was replaced by former Special Action Forces (SAF) commander Noli Taliño as Police Regional Office chief, Osmeña complained why he wasn’t informed about it.
Cebu City also has a new police chief in Col. Doria who replaced Col. Benjie Santos. Superintendents Rex Derilo and Ylanan were also replaced.
The officers who were transferred were reputedly close to former General Marcelo Garbo who has been tagged by the Duterte administration as a coddler and protector of big-time drug lords.
The transfers have angered Mayor Osmeña, and he vowed to no longer be active in the fight against illegal drugs in the city by withdrawing the allowances of the police officers and personnel.
The city mayor vowed to be active in some other problems faced by the city like traffic and garbage collection. In this respect, Osmeña knew how former mayor Michael Rama felt when he was not given a police chief of his choice by the former Aquino administration.
It was also believed that Mayor Osmeña played a major role in blocking Rama’s chance to pick his own police chief.
Some quarters are saying that Mayor Osmeña’s reaction is so childish, so like a spoiled brat that he may invite the ire of the Duterte administration.
Funny how during the last campaign period, Mayor Tom painted former mayor Michael Rama as a drug addict, a protector and coddler of drug lords in the city.
Now there were reports that Mayor Tom is linked to drug dealers like slain Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz whom he admitted had offered cash to him, but he turned him down.
I am hoping that the distinguished mayor would put the interest of the people above anything else and should resume his advocacy to fight the illegal drug trade here in the city. He should stop behaving like a spoiled brat having a temper tantrum.
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The recent triumph of the Philippines in its case against China in the Hague Arbitration Court over the South China sea dispute begs the question of who will enforce the ruling.
China clearly said it doesn’t recognize the ruling and that stance will become a major obstacle hindering any prospects of a peaceful resolution to the sea row.