(CNN Philippines) — The National Police Commission on Wednesday revoked the mayor’s authority to supervise the PNP in his area, after he stopped supporting the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
NAPOLCOM Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao says Osmeña should talk with the President if he wants to get this authority back.
“We are all government servants. Kaya lang naman ito ginagawa for the reason of expediency. We cannot allow peace and order to be lying in one corner just because of a little misunderstanding,” said Casurao.
In a resolution, the NAPOLCOM said Osmeña “had decided to stop giving allowances and rewards” to newly assigned police officials in the city, “ceased in supplying gasoline” to police service vehicles, and barred the release of 15 patrol cars and three vans to the current city police leadership.
Osmeña is known for cracking down hard on the illegal drug trade in Cebu — but now, he appears to be turning his back on the campaign.
The Cebu City Mayor was among the first mayors to offer reward money to policemen who had killed alleged drug pushers during operations.
But after Senior Superintendent Benjamin Santos was relieved as Cebu City police chief, he publicly withdrew support for the government’s anti-drug efforts. Osmena said Santos was relieved without prior consultation from him.
And despite PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa’s plea for reconsideration, the mayor stands firm.
“Yung attitude of being getting offended just because the chief of police of your choice has been replaced, I don’t think it should affect your duty to maintain peace and order in your area,” Casurao explained.
Casurao explained though that removing Mayor Osmeña’s supervision over the city police is not a punishment.
“In fairness to Mayor, wala naman kaming nakikitang basis to hold him liable for anything. Because ang nangyari lang dito, he’s our deputy. Our deputy so far as managing the operations of the PNP in his area of concern. Ngayon ang nangyari doon, parang tumigil lang sya. In simple situation, ayaw na nya magpatuloy na deputy ng Napolcom,” said Casurao.
Casurao said the NAPOLCOM in coordination with the PNP needs to take over, in case the local chief executive refuses to perform the job on behalf of the NAPOLCOM.
Section 65 of Republic Act 8551 states “the Commission may, after consultation with the provincial governor and congressman concerned, suspend or withdraw the deputation of any local executive” for any of the following grounds:
Frequent unauthorized absences
Abuse of authority
Providing material support to criminal elements
Engaging in acts inimical to national security or which negate the effectiveness of the peace and order campaign
The law says only the President may restore the deputation.
Casurao said their decision is effective immediately.
“Kailangan namin itong gawin sa Napolcom kasi magsa-suffer yung peace and order doon e. Can you imagine a city like Cebu na ang pulis will be doing it’s job na walang nagda-direct kung ano ang gagawin?”
Revoking something he never had
Osmeña, in a statement sent to the press in Cebu, lamented the Napolcom’s decision.
“You mean they’re revoking something that I never had in the first place? Being denied the chance to choose someone to work with was the very reason for my protest to begin with,” Osmeña stated.
The Mayor added he would not mind if his trusted men were replaced with more competent police officials, citing the appointment of Senior Superintendent Joel Doria as new Cebu City Police Chief and Superintendent Romeo Santander as Deputy City Police Chief for Operations.
Doria was the Pasay City Police chief during the Close-up Forever Summer Party earlier this year, when five people died from a drug overdose during an outdoor concert. As for Santander, he was among those policemen named by President Duterte who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
The mayor said he managed to get 9 of the 10 most wanted pushers in Cebu City because he worked with men he could trust.
He revealed that he called PNP chief Dela Rosa when he heard the news about the police leadership revamp in Cebu.
“I called General Dela Rosa not to ask that he retain them, but to ask for just a little for time. He personally told me that he would give them 90 days. I said “ok, that’s fair enough.” Then he changed them in 30 days without warning. I tried calling him after that. No response.”
Mayor Osmeña said he will abide with the Napolcom’s resolution.
But he reminds Cebuanos that the peace and order situation in his city are now in the sole responsibility of the Napolcom.
The mayor says he will just focus on other problems in Cebu City like garbage and traffic.
