Tomas ready to take over police works

Alarmed by the recent spate of killings, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is willing to take the responsibility from the police to maintain the peace and order.

The mayor said he was disturbed by the statement of Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas insisting that the city is still safe despite the series of killings in the past days.

“Cebu City is not safe. I wish I could say it's safe at this point. Now I can say it's not safe. If the regional director says it's safe, well, I'm scared,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said it is dangerous to say that the city is still safe even if it is not because criminals are no longer afraid. The mayor said he will accept the challenge to maintain the peace and order of the city with the help of the residents.

“I would just like to tell the Cebuanos that I'm going to accept this challenge if the regional director will not be responsible for the peace and order of the city, I will accept the challenge. I don't know how to do it but I will do it because I will not allow these things to continue in the city,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said he wants the public to continuously send tips to him and other information about suspicious people in their area.

The mayor said there are people from outside Cebu who are responsible for these killings. In fact, he is looking for two black Hyundai cars that he described as “cars of interest.”

“Basta I'm looking for two black Hyundai cars. I believe that many of these killings are related,” he said.

He said he will tap the people to have a peaceful city if the police will not do it.

“If the police will not do it, I will do it. But I need the people's help. You have to help me. I can't win this one alone,” he said.

Osmeña, however, said that he is hoping that the Cebu City Police Office under the leadership of Senior Supt. Royina Garma will step up.

“I'm answerable what happens to the city, I will not blame the police or anyone else. You blame me. I'm the mayor. I don't want anyone to be harmed. All I'm asking from the people is, give me your cooperation. We'll set up neighborhood watch,” Osmeña said.

When asked if he trusts Garma, Osmeña said it is too early to say.

While he is happy that Cebu was recognized as eighth of 15 top destinations in the world, Osmeña believes that the spate of killings will affect its tourism.

If the city and province will not address the series of killings, Osmeña said the tourism will be affected.

Travel+Leisure, a New York based travel magazine, recently named Cebu as one of the “most beautiful havens in the world.”

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, however, said the province is still "relatively safe."

"Sa Cebu I can say (we are) still relatively safe in the absence of the killings," Davide told reporters.

But, the governor agrees with the mayor as far as the peace and order situation of Cebu City is concerned.

"Sa Cebu City, I can share the opinion of Mayor Osmeña," he said.