Cebu City (CNN Philippines, May 7) — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to step in as he accused the local police of partisan politics.
“This is the first time that the police is being used for politics. This has never happened before. Even (President Rodrigo) Duterte when he was mayor of Davao, he ran after criminals and even kills them but he never used police for politics. This is the first time, and that is why I am very very dissapointed (with the police),” Osmeña said in a news forum Tuesday.
He is blaming it on Cebu City Police Chief Col. Royina Garma, whom Osmeña also accused of receiving payola or payoffs of up to ₱800,000 daily from illegal gambling activities. Osmeña said he wants Garma replaced.
Garma denied Osmena’s accusations and urged the mayor to just file cases against her. President Rodrigo Duterte summoned her to Malacañang on Monday, but details of their meeting have not been made available.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson earlier urged COMELEC to look into the case of Cebu City “before things get out of hand.”
“Cebu City is a case of the PNP (Philippine National Police) dipping their fingers into partisan local politics. The incumbent mayor has his hands full in dealing with his rival candidates and the city’s own police force,” Lacson said in a tweet on Monday.
Osmeña on Tuesday said, “When he (Lacson) makes a statement, there is a very high credibility on what he says.”
Resolution No. 10481 states that COMELEC can place an area under its control on the grounds of intense political rivalry, violence, use of loose firearms and serious armed threats. COMELEC can reshuffle or relieve police officers found guilty of election offenses.
Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental, Daraga in Albay, and Cotabato City have been placed under COMELEC control as violent events marred the election season.
Cebu City-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report.
