VM: EXPLAIN RELEASE OF 3 BUTANE REFILLERS

Labella, a lawyer, says police should not have allowed the mayor to take custody of the arrested individuals since they can only be released after judicial processes.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella wants to know why police officers allowed Mayor Tomas Osmeña to take custody of the three persons who were arrested for allegedly refilling butane canisters at the T. Padilla Market last Friday night.

In a news conference yesterday, Labella said the police have the right to resist Osmeña.

“Why did the police authorities allow anybody (to take them)? They could have insisted not to allow (it), they could have resisted the mayor, even if the one who came there was the president of the Philippines, because no one is above the law,” he said.

Labella backs the plan of the police to file cases against Osmeña, saying it’s their prerogative.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma earlier said that the CCPO will press charges for obstruction of justice, grave abuse of authority, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against the mayor.

Labella, who is a lawyer, said that if the mayor really wanted to help the arrested individuals, he could have provided them with lawyers.

“As I’ve said over and over again, ours is a government of laws and not of men,” he said.

Osmeña has yet to comment on the matter. He earlier announced that he will only answer issues concerning the police on Sept. 9.

In a separate interview, Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas said he has no problem if Osmeña will organize a rally on Sept. 9.

He said the crowd dispersal team will observe maximum tolerance.

Osmeña, however, denied that he will be staging an “anti-police rally.” /