Food for APEC police 'degrading'

Cops’ meals low quality?

CEBU, Philippines - Delegates of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Cebu are pampered at the Cebu’s best hotels but are the policemen securing their stay eating low quality food?

Some policemen deployed in Mandaue City for close-in security of delegates yesterday complained of being served “degrading” meals.

One of the 137 policemen housed at the Cebu International Convention Center, who requested anonymity, told The FREEMAN they have been provided “low-quality foods” since Tuesday night.

“Bati gyud ang klase sa bugas. Naa’y pansit, puro ra pud pansit, wala’y sahog ug mga dahon-dahon. Unya ang giingon nga chicken fillet, halos harina tanan (It was poor-quality rice. The noodles did not have vegetables. We were served chicken fillet made of almost all flour),” the officer said.

He said he decided to air their concern out because they are aware of the P250 food allowance they are allocated with per day, which is good for three meals.

“Maayo unta og wa mi kahibaw nga P250 among allowance pero kahibaw man mi (Good if we never knew we have the meal allowance but we do),” he said.

Some of his colleagues reportedly refused to eat the food provided so the packed meals were given to workers nearby.

The source said the meals are prepared by a catering firm based in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City. The FREEMAN is withholding the company’s name pending its comment.

At least eight caterers are supplying meals to more than 3,000 security contingents.  Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas said they “will take note of that and will take it up with the caterer.”

Allowance

The source said that if they had it their way, they would prefer a food allowance in cash.

Bañas said, however, they cannot give cash since this is “inconsistent with the proper way to use public funds.” This, he said, is part of the guidelines of the Commission on Audit.

Bañas assured that no one can take advantage of the budget allocated for the officers’ meals. In fact, he said, aside from paying for the meals, the police department is also shouldering the cost of transporting the provision to where the policemen are deployed.

Earlier, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ricardo Marquez announced during his visit that each of the policemen deployed for APEC will receive a total of P500 as allowance.

Yesterday, Bañas explained that like any government agency, the PNP is covered by COA rules. Also, the allowance is part of a special trust fund that can be spent for APEC only.

Of the P500 allocated per policeman, P300 of which is for meals while P200 is for transportation, logistics, and other expenses necessary for the maintenance of the personnel’s tactical operations center.   

“Hindi P500 ang ibibigay… kung P500, baka idis-allow ng COA kasi masyadong mataas. From the P500, naa pay other expenses involved… naay transpo, logistics,” Bañas said.

“Based on the recommendation based sa program of expenditures, may mga P300 sa mga police men na ihatag, tubig, ang whatever food na pwede nating idagdag,” he added.

A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said they started receiving the packed meals only starting this Tuesday. Before that, they were reportedly given cash. Some reportedly received P300 while others received P600.    

With the packed meals, they are reportedly served two scoops of rice, eggs and longganisa for breakfast and two scoops of rice, two sets of viand and water for lunch and dinner.

Bañas explained that PRO 7 had to spend its own money for the meals of the augmentation forces because they were deployed even before the APEC meetings started. The problem was that the budget for APEC allowance is programmed for only 10 days.

Those who were deployed early were given cash “because of the exigency of the situation.”

“Nagtanong ako kung ano bang pwedeng ibigay… sabi ng finance ko, tapatan natin ang subsistence allowance, which is P150 a day. Ano mang kakulangan, we will consult with our COA on how to get this additional finding with our people, our road security na nasa lansangan,” he said.

Bañas admitted the troops deployed exceeded the troop ceiling set by the national organizing committee.  

“At the end of the day we will submit our liquidation. Kung may tinatago ka, eh mananagot ka,” Bañas said.

Lapu situation

In Mactan, Mayor Paz Radaza instructed Lapu-Lapu Police chief, Senior Supt. Armando Radoc, to monitor the policemen assigned there constantly.

“Gipang-monitor man nako ug maayo ni Colonel Radoc, unya ug kung duna ma’y problema, then I’ll just have to discuss with him,” Radaza said.

“So far, akong instruction sa iyaha is tan-awon lang kung unsa ang allowance nga mahatag sa ilaha, and after that, kung dili man gani, we will just have to discuss it,” Radaza added.

At least 446 policemen were deployed in the city  Radaza said the city is willing to help supplement the needs of the police officers.

“Ang amoa is mu-augment or mu-supplement lang mi kung unsay gikahinanglan,” she said.

The policemen deployed in the city who are from other provinces are staying at the covered courts in Barangays Ibo, Mactan, Punta Engaño, Babag and Pusok. — /JMO (FREEMAN)