Tomas praises Doria, but will not keep him
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will not ask Camp Crame to defer the changing of city police directors.
In his press conference yesterday, the mayor said he wanted to keep Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Joel Doria, whose two-year team will expire in July.
“He’s one of the best police chiefs I’ve ever had, arguably the best,” the mayor told reporters.
Osmeña said he already got a shortlist of the possible police officers that will replace Doria.
Asked if he will ask Camp Crame to let Doria stay in his position, the mayor said it would be unfair to the police officer who can seek higher position after his twoyear term as CCPO director.
Even if he likes the performance of Doria, Osmeña said he would not want to affect the police official’s career by asking the PNP headquarters to let him stay in his post.
“If he (Doria) will stay in one place, it will affect your career. Everyone will overtake him and he’s done a good job. He should be a Chief PNP, if you ask me,” the mayor said.
Osmeña said it was unfair when PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde reiterated that Cebu is still a drug hotspot because of the efforts of Doria in Cebu City.
Osmeña believed that CCPO had several successful drug buy-bust operations that resulted in the confiscation of illegal drugs.
“That’s why, it’s really unfair when the chief PNP says Cebu is a hotspot. That’s very unfair because the impression is as if the police were not doing their job,” the mayor said.
He said he will ask Doria to submit a summary of the buy-bust operations of the CCPO and present it to the public.
Osmeña said he already got four names that are shortlisted to possibly replace Doria come July.
As of yesterday, the mayor said he has not read the names yet because he is still “in denial” that Doria will end his term sooner.
“No, I haven’t even checked (the names). I’m in a state in denial. I like Doria,” the mayor said.
If he will be asked to choose, Osmeña said he would want somebody from the city.
The mayor did not divulge any names as to his preference to lead the city’s police office.
– Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/ GAN