Cebu police banned from wearing masks

CEBU CITY—Mayor Tomas Osmeña has banned all city police officers from wearing masks during operations.

In a memorandum order dated April 4, Osmeña directed the city police force “to refrain from concealing their identities by wearing face masks during police operations.”

Masked officers “might give the public the impression that said operations are unsanctioned or illegitimate,” Osmeña said in his order.

The mayor’s directive differs widely from the view of Police General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), that police officers cannot be totally prevented from wearing masks during operations.

“The wearing of masks actually depends on the seriousness of the operation. Sometimes, it is meant to protect also the operatives but not everybody. Our drug enforcement operatives are even in civilian attire when they operate but they should be assisted by those in uniform,” said Albayalde, who was in Cebu last Thursday to check on police security preparations for the May 13 elections.

He said exposing the face of some police operatives could put them at risk.

“We have intelligence officers and we cannot reveal their identities. Otherwise, we will compromise their safety. We’re dealing with syndicates and they might get back at our operatives,” said Albayalde.

He explained not all those wearing masks during opera

tions are policemen. “Some of those mask-wearing personnel are police assets, that’s why we have to protect their identities,” Albayalde said.

Albayalde said he respects the right of Osmeña to issue such an order, but it should be applied on a case-to-case basis.

“He is the local chief executive so that’s his right. We have no problem with that, we will accept it,” he said.

Osmeña has warned that officers who do not comply with the order “will be dealt with administrative and criminal action.”

The mayor has not been in good terms with the city’s police force. The police has brought charges against him before the Office of the OmbudsmanVisayas for allegedly facilitating the release of three persons who had been arrested for refilling butane canisters.

The relationship further soured after Osmeña threatened to stop the cash allowances the police has been receiving from the city. He made the threat after the houses of two barangay captains affiliated with the mayor were strafed last April 4.

Osmeña gave the police 10 days to solve the incidents and prove it was not behind the strafings.

Albayalde has played down Osmeña’s threat.

“If he has evidence that the police were involved, then he should prove it. It’s unfortunate that some local chief executives act like a child. If he will not support our police, then fine. We can support our troops because we have our own MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses),” Albayalde said.