On police-related matters: Duterte slams Osmeña anew

CEBU, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has slammed Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña anew for taking custody of three men the police in the city arrested last month.

He criticized Osmeña during a briefing in Laoag, Ilocos Norte Sunday night – even calling the mayor “crazy.”

“This guy must be crazy. Pupunta doon sa prisohan tapos ipa-release yung mga nahuli. Those arrested by the police, he demanded the release,” Duterte said.

Last August 24, the Parian Police Station in downtown Cebu City arrested three men for refilling butane canisters with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

But Osmeña went to the police station and told the police that he would take custody of the three suspects.

The policemen on duty reportedly felt intimidated by the mayor’s presence and gave in.

“File-an mo ng kaso. May mga ano talaga. Eh, mga Bisaya may ganun rin. Yung hindi mo maintindihan yung utak. Mga gago,” Duterte said.

He also lashed at Osmeña for the mayor’s “lack” of support to the police.

“Isa pa yang p***** i**. Kunan mo yung pulis ng patrol car, kunan mo ang pulis ng baril. Anong klase?” Duterte said.

Records from the city’s Department of General Services show that there are 89 city-owned vehicles issued to the Cebu City Police Office. The city also allocated close to P5 million for fuel allowance.

Osmeña’s wife, Councilor Margot Osmeña, said she still believes that the president has been misinformed on the matter of the city’s support for the police.

“It’s clear that he is misinformed. I think in one newspaper today, it was there, in a report of Ronaldo Malacora (Department of General Services head) regarding how many has been the assistance of the city, the numbers of cars,” she said.

“He is misinformed… of course we feel bad about that. In the end, he will know what the truth is. There are ways of getting the right information,” she said.

As far as taking custody of the three men is concerned, Margot said the mayor simply responded to the suspects’ call for help.

“They don’t have lawyers… the only connection they have is the mayor, because the phone number is on Facebook,” Margot said.

Complaint

The charges the police filed against Osmeña in relation to the custody case are now under evaluation by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Cebu City Police Office sued the mayor for obstruction of justice, grave abuse of authority, misconduct, for violating the ethical standards for government officials and employees.

At the Police Regional Office-7, Director Debold Sinas said they have already furnished the Department of Interior and Local Government a copy of charges filed against Osmeña.

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has also directed regional offices of the police to submit an evaluation of local chief executives’ performance in supporting the police.

The evaluation will serve as basis on NAPOLCOM’s decision to whether or not strip a mayor of supervisory control over the PNP. (FREEMAN)