Oppus ordered pullout of my escorts: Guv

Thursday, March 17, 2011

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia confirmed that Senior Supt. Louie Oppus ordered for the recall of her security escorts, but Camp Crame instructed the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 to retain them.

She said Oppus went to her office and told her he will pull them out by March 15, in accordance with the guidelines of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

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Garcia said she did not object because she preferred not to have escorts who keep on following her.

PRO 7 Director Ager Ontog, however, clarified to her that they have received an order from the general headquarters.

“So what can I do? Ang ako pa gani tubag (My answer was) I don’t know if I should say thank you or oh, no or too bad,” Garcia told reporters.

Garcia insinuated yesterday that Oppus, then officer-in-charge of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, went to her office on the day Sun.Star Cebu published a news report, stating that she had highly recommended Patrocinio Comendador to be CPPO head. She also questioned why the issue of recalling her escorts was brought up, on the first day of Commendador’s appointment as OIC head.

“So, kato mga wa napili, palihug lang dili unta mangita ug mga pamaagi, underhanded and sly ways in order to get back at me. Kay nisamot na hinoon ang akong pagtuo nga sakto gyud diay ang akong pagpili (Comendador). Wa ko nasayop ug nasakto gyud ko nga wa naku siya (Oppus) pili-a gyud (Those who I didn’t choose, please don’t seek ways to get back at me. It convinces me more that my choices are right. I didn’t go wrong in not choosing him),” Garcia said.

When sought for a reaction, Oppus sent a text message saying, “(I have) no comment. I was just doing my job to the best of my ability.”

Escorts added

Garcia said the number of her security escorts was increased after she had declared an all-out war against insurgency. She said these were retained because she’s also waging war against illegal drugs, illegal fishing and human trafficking.

It was not the first time the number of her security escorts was questioned. Garcia yesterday said there was advice a long time ago to pull out her bodyguards, but the orders from Camp Crame prevented their implementation.

In July last year, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, who is at odds with the governor, distributed a three-page report that claimed the governor has 16 escorts, while her son Paolo has four, her brother Rep. Pablo John Garcia, one, and her father, Rep. Pablo Garcia, also one escort. He did not reveal his source.

The governor clarified that if she had her way, she would not want to have any security escorts, who follow her around. But she said she can’t have her way all the time because she realized that “beyond being just Gwen Garcia, she’s also the governor of Cebu.”

She also reacted to reports that she had a hand in cutting the CPPO’s electricity allegedly after Oppus issued an order to recall her bodyguards.

Billing

Garcia said Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin wrote to Oppus last March 2, informing him that the payment of utilities like electricity is an obligation of the CPPO. Habin said the memorandum of agreement entered into by the Capitol and CPPO for the construction of their building does not provide for the payment of utilities.

Garcia also corrected Sun.Star Cebu columnist Bobby Nalzaro that she had scolded the customs officials after complaints of extortion by their personnel to some Korean tourists reached her office. She said the “top echelons” are very cooperative and she did not scold them.