Ouano wants Catabas out of Mandaue

An apparently angry Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano yesterday sent a request to the Police Regional Office-7 for the immediate relief and transfer of Sr/Supt. Eduardo Catabas Jr. from his post as director of the Mandaue City Police.

PRO-7 director, C/Supt. Silverio Alarcio Jr. is however yet to receive the mayor's request but Ouano said the success of the coming Asean Summit would partly depend on the way the police force of the host cities enforce security measures.

Ouano said that, as the father of Mandaue City, it is also his responsibility to ensure the utmost safety of his constituents and visitors-a matter that could only be achieved with the able support of the city police force.

"Since Mandaue City is among the key players of the Asean Summit, being a host city, I demand utmost competence from the local police leadership. However, I have lost trust and confidence in Catabas as MCPO director," the mayor said.

Ouano had fought for the reinstatement of Catabas as MCPO director last April after PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao Jr relieved him a month before that for negligence against illegal activities in the city, based on the PNP's three-strike policy.

This time, however, the mayor cited some instances as his bases for demanding the relief of Catabas.

Ouano said, a few weeks ago, he told Catabas on a plan by leftist groups to hold a rally in front of the Cebu International Convention Center. He ordered Catabas to make sure that the protesters will not be allowed in the area but he was surprised to learn that the rally still pushed through.

There has been a standing order to implement a no-rally policy around the CICC area during the summit and Ouano said he has expected that the city police force had carried out this.

One of the city's projects, for the summit, is street lighting along the ceremonial route but Ouano said he was dismayed to know that there has been rampant stealing of cables used for the project.

"I am disappointed that Catabas has not succeeded in putting in place measures to stop these illegal activities. I also received reports that the new street lampposts have been vandalized. I have not received any positive reports of any apprehension from him," Ouano said.

Even the murder of banker Narciso Damole, and the robbery of the Veco office in the city have failed to reach promising development that would result in the resolution of these cases against the perpetrators, the mayor lamented.

Catabas started his term as MCPO director last January but Lomibao ordered him relieved in March after three of his station commanders (Subangdaku, Basak and Opao) were relieved due to illegal gambling in their jurisdictions.

Ouano asked the Department of Interior and Local Government to cancel the relief order of Catabas who requested him for another chance to "recover and prove his seriousness and commitment to sustain the momentum and win against all forms of illegal activities."

Due to Ouano's request to retain Catabas, he was reinstated as MCPO director. This time, however, Ouano wanted him ousted. - Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon with Garry B. Lao