‘It’s Osmeña who has the problem’

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said there is no need to reshuffle officers in Cebu City amid the growing tension between the local police chief and the mayor as the problem lies not with the police, but probably with the mayor.

“I’m always in close coordination with the regional director (RD) there. Wala naman silang problema. Even the PNP wala namang problema baka ‘yung mayor ang may problema. ‘Yun ang sinasabi ng ating RD but with the PNP, wala naman kaming problema (The PNP does not have the problem. It’s probably the mayor who has a problem. That was what the RD told me),” he told reporters in Manila.

He did not mention names, but he was clearly referring to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who has been engaged in a word war with Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma.

Albayalde said Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas has not made any recommendation to remove Garma and reshuffle the officers in Cebu.

“As of this time, the regional director has not made any recommendation to reorganize. He does not also see any reason to remove Colonel Garma,” he said.

Albayalde maintained that the PNP remains apolitical and non-partisan.

“Because, remember, we are apolitical. Our mission is to ensure safe and peaceful elections. Perhaps the mayor should just tell the PNP or the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) whatever issue he has with the police. We have not received reports of meddling from the regional director,” he added in Tagalog.

Albayalde said they always verify allegations made against their men and, so far, he has not received any derogatory reports against Garma.

He said Garma was not the personal choice of Osmeña for the said post after he was stripped of police powers following his order to withdraw support for the local police.

“Accusations are made, especially when the police chief is not the mayor’s choice. Let’s just be fair,” Albayalde said in

Tagalog.

It was learned that the mayor officially charged Garma for alleged irregularities during the conduct of police operations and deaths of several individuals.

Osmeña lodged a complaint for violations of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Article 129 of the Revised Penal Code; grave misconduct; gross neglect of duty; and oppression before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices.

Last Tuesday, May 7, Osmeña also asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila to place Cebu under its control during the elections on Monday, May 13 if the PNP cannot solve the harassment problem and other crimes in the city.

Speaking before the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza, Osmeña did not say whether the Comelec has responded to his request.

When asked about getting caught on camera gambling and Garma reporting the matter to President Rodrigo Duterte, the mayor said he would only answer in a proper forum.

Garma, for her part, said she did not report the mayor’s criticisms to the President.

The police official and the President met last Monday, May 6, in Malacañang.

Garma said she introduced to Duterte a female police official who will be the President’s new aide-decamp. Their conversation did not last long as the President was on his way to a Cabinet meeting.

“Honestly, it (the meeting) had nothing to do with our mayor… andaming nag-speculate (several persons were speculating),” she said.

But had Duterte asked her about the mayor, she would have divulged Osmeña’s attacks against her and the local police.

She promised that the CCPO would not take sides in local politics, saying its main duty is to secure the midterm elections.

Osmeña accused the CCPO of harassing his political allies. But Garma denied this, saying they wouldn’t allow themselves to get involved in partisan politics.

According to Garma, several police officers reported to her that Osmeña used CCPO personnel, including the Special Weapons and Tactics team, to go after his rivals during the 2013 midterm elections.

“I will not allow it this time. That’s why I should always know all the moves of my personnel,” she said.

Meanwhile, the CCPO announced it would conduct checkpoints during the miting de avance of Barug PDP-Laban in Barangay San Nicolas on Wednesday, May 8.

This is to show that the CCPO is non-partisan, Garma said.

Garma drew flak from Osmeña when the CCPO conducted checkpoints during the BOPK’s political rally last Sunday.

Garma said she told a police station chief to check the venue of Barug PDP-Laban’s activity.

The party’s headliners are Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and former mayor Michael Rama who are running for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, against the reelectionist Osmeña and his running mate Mary Ann de los Santos.

Osmeña had accused the CCPO of acting as goons for the opposition, which Garma denied.

The Comelec does not allow the police to provide close-in security to politicians, but it allows them to conduct checkpoints.

Garma said the aim of checkpoints is to prevent criminals from disrupting political events.

She said they will put up checkpoints in all the miting de avance’s entry and exit points and near the venue. /