GET A CAM, SAYS TOM

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña urges car owners to install dashboard cameras to record traffic violations, possibly crimes Testify, too, suggests Cebu City Police Director Royina Garma, in case the camera records evidence of a crime

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday urged motorists to install dashboard cameras in their vehicles as a measure to help solve crimes and improve the peace and order situation in the city.

Osmeña is also considering putting passenger-facing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all public utility jeepneys plying routes in the city.

In a Facebook post, Osmeña said that anyone who has a footage of a crime that will lead to the filing of charges against the suspects will be rewarded.

The mayor also assured the bearer of the video that he or she will remain anonymous.

“I encourage the Cebuanos to install dashcams in their vehicles. In addition to helping report traffic violations, you will contribute greatly to peace and order,” the mayor wrote.

Osmeña said he is willing to look for funds to be able to subsidize the installation of dashcams in the vehicles of those who want one.

In an interview yesterday, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma said she supports the move.

But Garma said it would be better if the owner of the video will also testify against suspected criminals in court.

“It’s their right and I’m even encouraging everyone to help us. If they can capture it in the camera, they should help us by providing a copy of the footage. And they should be willing to testify because even if they will provide us a copy, if no one will testify, we can’t use the video as evidence,” she said.

Garma said the community has a big role to play when it comes to peace and order.

Threats

Also yesterday, the police chief assured the mayor that they are doing everything to secure him.

Osmeña received another warning to be “extra careful” because there are plans to eliminate him.

In a Facebook post, Osmeña posted the text messages he received, where the names of those involved were mentioned.

“[Redacted] I’m a concerned [redacted] here in PRO 7 (Police Regional Office 7) please advise the mayor to be extra careful there are plans to eliminate him, Cadungog and Councilor Dave Tumulak there is conspiracy to link them to drugs just tell them to please be careful with the group of P03 Calumba are behind this and top officials of PRO 7 and CCPO (Cebu City Police Office) are sanctioning this,” a portion of the text messages read.

The same text message said that the “police are behind the killings.” The names of those who were killed recently were mentioned.

Last July 30, Tejero Barangay Councilor Jessielou “Jing-Jing” Cadungog survived what he considers an attempt to ambush him. The police, though, had a different version and said that Cadungog’s driver was the one who killed a police officer.

Osmeña said that several people already have the full text of the warnings he got, which they will release in the event something happens to him.

In his news conference, the mayor said he is a little bit worried about it especially with what happened to Cadungog.

When asked if plans to report the threats to the police, Osmeña said: “Why will that save my life?”

Garma said she already signed orders to retain two “veteran” police officers who are securing the mayor.

“Matagal na. When I assumed meron na and I just renewed the order. Beterano na and nagse-secure at matagal na sa kanya,” Garma said.

She added that she also deployed a team from the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) to secure the premises of Osmeña’s residence and even the roads along his route in going home.