Replacing Rama, Tom O cops
I am writing this article in light of the recent developments wherein Mayor Tomas Osmeña cried foul over the replacement of Chief Supt. Patricio Commendador last July 1, 2016. Commendador became famous for the operation that killed top drug lord in the Visayas Jeffrey Diaz a.k.a. Jaguar who, according to intelligence sources, was about to surrender in order to cooperate in the war against drugs in the Visayas.
When Osmeña's nemesis Mike Rama was mayor, he used to complain of the same predicament. There were even speculations that Osmeña himself used his connections with his close friend and ally, then secretary Mar Roxas, to have Mike Rama's police chiefs replaced. Whether or not this is true, only God knows.
For the benefit of the uninformed Cebuanos, below is a list of former Mayor Rama's police chiefs who were replaced during his tenure as mayor. The data are from reports in local papers: 1. Senior Supt. Noli Romana (Dec 6, 2014). Romana's relief was reportedly announced in Cebu by Senior Supt. Edward Carranza, chief of staff of the Police Regional Office 7, during a command conference Thursday afternoon. “This will leave a bad taste. They (Liberal Party administration) have always been talking about daang matuwid. But this is a demonstration of daang matuwad,” Rama quipped. 2. Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela, (Jan 11, 2016) Rama was not happy with this move and questioned the timing considering that Cebu will be hosting the International Eucharistic Congress. No concrete explanation was given to the mayor & he felt that this was politically motivated since he was not allied with the administration's Liberal Party. 3. Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan (April 3, 2016) Former mayor Rama told the press, “It is the changing of guards that I will consider detestable, appalling and scandalous. There should be no changing anymore. What is needed now is stability and continuity.”
“What are they doing? This is a manifestation of martial law. Mas maayo pa man to sa una kay ang martial law duna may proclamation (At least with martial law, there was a proclamation). I can't understand the political mechanism they go through.” 4. Chief Supt. Tom Prudencio Bañas (Dec 10, 2015) “Under Bañas's watch as PRO 7 chief for the last 18 months, PRO 7 conducted 4,892 anti-illegal drug operations that led to the confiscation of 27,722.13 grams of illegal drugs worth P307.2 million. This also resulted in the arrest of 6,679 drug personalities.” See the pattern? Watch closely. 5. Chief Supt Conrad Capa (March 21, 2015) As usual Rama was up in arms saying “Has there already been a new PNP chief? None. So why is there a movement? Who is making the movement. Is there a de facto chief PNP? I want to know,” he said. 6. Chief Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe (2014) “I lost my chief of police not once but twice,” Rama said referring to Romana and former City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe, who was reassigned as directorate for operations at the Public Safety Division in Camp Crame.
Meanwhile, Tommy's police chief's reassignment had something to do with drugs as PNP Chief Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa suggests in his interviews.
The big question now for Mayor Tommy Osmeña is this: “If your police chief is directly involved in drugs and you are the mayor, what does this say about you?”-- from Richie Minggel of Banilad, Cebu City