Garbo admits Rama’s right to police chief of his choice

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Marcelo Garbo said the strong endorsement of Mayor Michael Rama for Senior Superintendent Noli Romana as the next director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will surely be approved by Camp Crame.

Section 63 of Republic Act 8551 or The New Police Act of 1998 provides that local chief executives have the right to choose their police chiefs from a list of at least five eligible officials submitted by the police director.

Garbo told the reporters yesterday that he already sent Rama’s letter to Camp Crame for the preparation of the appointment order of Romana to head the over 900 police personnel in the city.

Romana, the incumbent director of Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, is Rama’s choice because of endorsement from former Cebu City police director Melvin Ramon Buenafe.

But even if Romana would be appointed CCPO director, the administrative investigation against him will continue on why he failed to stop the illegal gambling operations in Negros Oriental.

Garbo said he had ordered the investigators at the PRO-7 to conduct investigation on the possibility that the illegal gambling operation in Negros Oriental has the blessing of the top police officials.

Two of Romana’s subordinate police personnel had been reportedly being caught on video while in the act of receiving protection money from the gambling operators in the province.

According to Garbo, once Romana will be appointed already as CCPO director, incumbent CCPO director Mariano Natu-el would be transferred to PRO-7.  (FREEMAN)