Sunday, April 27, 2008 Lapu-Lapu traders don't want Oppus as chief
A GROUP of Mactan businessmen oppose the retention of Supt. Louie Oppus as director of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.
The Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce Incorporated (MICCI) approved a board resolution addressed to Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos expressing their opposition to Oppus.
The group said Oppus is subservient to Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, whom they accused of using the police as a virtual private army.
Oppus refused to comment on the accusations when reached by Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
“We wonder why there is so much of a moro-moro going on about Oppus. What and whose interest is he there to protect, especially since a good majority of the city officials whom he has been serving—like the mayor, city attorney, city administrator, etc.—all have serious criminal and administrative cases pending for graft and corruption before the Ombudsman?” said MICCI president Efrain Pelaez, Jr. in a letter addressed to Roderos.
“Is this a matter of scratching each other’s back to protect all their interests?” Pelaez said.
Rejection
Pelaez said the failure by Oppus to resolve three big robberies in the city have undermined Lapu-Lapu’s peace and order. He said this was among the issues that prompted MICCI officials to adopt the resolution last March 27.
Roderos, however, said it is the Senior Officers’ Placement Board (SOPB) that will decide on Oppus’s assignment.
Oppus was due for transfer because his rank does not qualify him for the post. Radaza and the Lapu-Lapu City Council, however, expressed opposition to his transfer outside the city.
Radaza rejected a list of five policemen recommended to replace Oppus. All five have the rank of senior superintendent, the required rank for a police chief of a highly-urbanized city.
“I received the letter of Mayor Radaza and the copy of the City Council resolution opposing Oppus’ relief and had it forwarded to the SOPB. So the ball is now at the SOPB,” he said in a mobile phone interview.
Aside from lacking rank qualification, the business group also accused Oppus of failing to stop tong collections in jeepney terminals.
“As far as we are concerned, most of his accomplishments as police chief cannot be relied on because they are self-serving and a result of reports originating from his own office and City Hall, which is under the control of his chief benefactor and supporter Mayor Radaza,” Pelaez said.
Pelaez and Oppus have sued each other before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas and the City Prosecutor’s Office. The charges arose over the closure by City Hall, with the assistance of Lapu-Lapu policemen, of Marina Mall, which is owned by Pelaez.
Pelaez said the closure was illegal and meant to harass him. (AIV)
