Withdrawal of deputation is Napolcom act – Del Mar

DEL MAR

Despite broad hints from the National Police Commission that it was President Rodrigo Duterte who gave the order stripping Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña of his supervisory powers over the police, Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar strongly believes that this was a Napolcom act.

“In so far as I’m concerned, it was Napolcom. Its en banc resolution withdrawing Mayor Osmeña’s deputation as the Commission’s representative was signed by the Commission’s Chairman, its Vice Chairman and all the members of the Commission,” he told CEBU DAILY NEWS in a text message.
Other staunch Osmeña allies echoed the Congressman’s belief.

Councilor Sisinio Andales said that this was the decision of the Napolcom en banc.

“I don’t think so because the resolution does not have the signature of President Duterte. Thus, the matter will be resolved by the Napolcom themselves,” Andales told CDN.

He also said that what Napolcom did was clearly without factual and legal basis.

“They acted with grave abuse of discretion, which is tantamount to lack of jurisdiction,” Andales said.

On Aug. 18, Del Mar filed House Resolution No. 253 asking the Committee on Local Governments in the Lower House to investigate “the propriety and legality” of Napolcom’s withdrawal of Osmeña’s deputation.

Osmeña had said he would file a motion for reconsideration. But according to the Napolcom Regional Director Homer Cabaral, the mayor didn’t have to do that. All he needed to do was talk to the President.

Cabaral said that Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao told him that “the person who revoked something is the only one who can restore it.”

The August 10 Napolcom resolution was signed by Interior Secretary Ismael Sueño and the six commissioners.

The basis for the decision was the result of the investigation conducted by Napolcom in Central Visayas after Osmeña publicly announced in July that he was washing his hands off the campaign against drugs and criminality and would not give allowances to the newly appointed police officers and men.

In his four-page resolution, del Mar said the memorandum was “without basis in fact and in law” citing that Napolcom-7 “grossly erred” in its report submitted to the Napolcom in Manila.

He also pointed out that Napolcom failed to consult him and South District Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa prior to withdrawing Osmeña’s deputation, which he said violated Section 65 of R.A. 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.

Meanwhile, Councilor Margarita Osmeña, wife of Mayor Osmeña said, “If that is what he (Napolcom-7 director Cabaral) wants to say, so be it. It’s fine.”

“You know what, we are doing okay. Tommy is fine,” she added.