CH budget cut to cripple ops

The Cebu City Police Office has admitted that the decision of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to cut off funds for the maintenance of the 90 vehicles the city issued to the PNP will affect the operations of the police.

“Ma-affected gyud atong pagserbisyo, especially mobility. Mapiang gyud atong operations,” Deputy Director for Administration, Supt. Artemio Ricabo, told The FREEMAN.

Aside from cutting the funds for maintenance, Osmeña also said he will let the PNP pay for the registration fees of the vehicles.

The city has issued 50 four-wheeled vehicles and 40 motorcycles to the Cebu City Police Office, as well as to police stations.

The mayor made the decision following a recent word war with the PNP over the spate of killings here.

The cost for maintenance and registration of one four-wheeled can reach P50,000 while the cost for motorcycle maintenance and registration can go up to P10,000.

Ricabo said the PNP cannot do anything about Osmeña's decision and will just have to find other ways to finance the maintenance of the vehicles.

“Wa ta'y mahimo kay siya man ang naa'y authority. Magsalig ra man ta niya (Osmeña). Dako na og tabang, pero kung iya ng i-cut off, mangita ta og paagi nga we can still function,” Ricabo said.

The past week saw Osmeña accusing the police of coddling hitmen responsible for the recent spate of killings in the city.

He was quoted as saying, “There are people here with police protection who are going around killing people. I'm not a great detective but that's what it smells like.”

The criticism heightened after the supposed assassination attempt of his supporter, Barangay Tejero councilman Jessielou Cadungog. The alleged gunman that Cadungog's bodyguard killed turned out to be a policeman, identified as PO3 Eugene Calumba.

Police Regional Office - 7 Director, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, said however that Calumba and his companion at that time, a police asset, were but conducting surveillance operations.

Calumba was laid to rest in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental yesterday.

Meanwhile, Cadungog is facing an attempted murder charge while his bodyguard, William Macaslang, Jr. is facing murder charges.

Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma also challenged Osmeña to prove his allegations, saying that the mayor's statement is tainting the reputation of the police.

“Kung yan opinion mo, that's your right. Pwede mong isipin. But to express it, there should be a proof,” Garma has said.