City’s P28M shopping list for police on hold

There’s a budget but no money, says Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña

WHAT will happen to the Cebu City Government’s P28million budget for the purchase of various equipment for the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO)?

Councilor Dave Tumulak, the former head of the peace and order program of the City, said yesterday the plan seems to be hanging.

The CCPO, he said, has long submitted the items that were supposed to be charged to the

budget but the executive department has yet to conduct the bidding for the transaction.

Among the items on the list are firearms and bulletproof vests. The purchase was funded under the City's 2015 annual budget yet.

In an interview yesterday, Tumulak expressed worry that the procurement will no longer push through after Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he would give the police a free hand in its campaign against illegal drugs. That followed the Philippine National Police's decision to remove some police officials from Cebu, including the former CCPO chief.

“I don't know what the status is. But the request and the identification of which firearms to get is with the bids and awards committee. Wa ko kahibaw kung madayon pa ang bidding ani kay wa pa man po’y notice (I don't know if the bidding will push through since no notice has been sent yet),” Tumulak said.

Sought for comment about this, Mayor Osmeña said yesterday afternoon that he will implement the procurement of the police equipment if Tumulak can produce P6 billion himself.

The mayor pointed out the City's budget last year was more than P10 billion when its actual revenue was only P4 billion.

“There is a budget but there is no money. If Mr. Tumulak can produce P6 billion, I will fund all of that. First time, it is only in Cebu City nga naa’y budget, wala’y kwarta (there was a budget, but no money),” he said.

Tumulak, chairperson of the City Council's committee on public order and safety, said he was hoping, though, that the executive department will continue the procurement.

“It is unfair for the constituents of the city (if this will be cancelled). The people of the city deserve these projects to maintain public order and safety,” he said.

Asked if the budget can be realigned if the executive department wants to do so, Tumulak said they will have to get the council's nod first.

He said the appropriation ordinance covering the P13.4-billion annual budget last year specifically stated that the P28 million will be used for the purchase of various police equipment.

As this developed, Tumulak said he was hoping that the mayor would not push through with his plan to recall the vehicles or patrol cars given by the City, during the administration for former mayor Michael Rama, to the police.

He said it will be good for the community if police visibility is maintained.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 recently turned over 21 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles to some police stations in Central Visayas.

Three of the vehicles were distributed to the Cebu City Police Office, one each to the Cebu Provincial Police Office, and one for the Lapu- Lapu City Police Office.

“I was informed that some of the vehicles intended for Cebu City Police Office were held so the arrival of the Mahindra vehicles is very timely,” said Chief Supt. Noli Taliño.

The CCPO recently returned three City-issued vehicles recalled by Osmeña.

Two Fortuners and one Montero that were previously used by former city director Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos, deputy chief for operations Supt. George Ylanan and deputy chief for administration Supt. Artemio Ricabo were recalled by the mayor.

But with the additional mobile units, the police will have no reason to be late during alarms and operations, Taliño said.

He warned the police against using the units for personal reasons.

Despite Osmeña's decision to recall the city-issued vehicles, Taliño said that the police will still help the local government units (LGUs) in upholding peace and order.

“Kahit na anong mangyayari, ibibigay pa rin namin ang full support namin sa kanya at sa lahat ng LGUs (Whatever happens, we will give our full support to the mayor and to the LGUs),” he said.

The PRO 7 is also awaiting the papers of the 147 motorcycles from Camp Crame so that these can be distributed to various police units in the region.

For his part, Cebu City Director Joel Doria said that the police will make do with what resources they have in the performance of their duty.