Sunday, September 14, 2008 Cortes demands new chief for Mandaue City police
THOUGH they often disagree these days, both Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna lambasted the police for blaming their misunderstanding for the rise in crime incidents in the city.
Cortes is demanding the relief of City Police Director Rodel Calungsod, while Fortuna is asking the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) what it has done to prevent crimes.
“I am demanding for his immediate relief, for making such an irresponsible statement, which is damaging to the city,” Cortes said.
He is preparing a “long list” of police officials, who include Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, former Lapu-Lapu City police chief, as Calungsod’s possible replacement.
Cortes was angry because the City Government already issued 29 police cars, Spider cabs and 12 motorcycles to the MCPO this year, which should have helped improve the police’s performance.
Those are aside from the existing six PNP service vehicles.
With Cortes calling it the “supreme sacrifice,” the six vehicles were the Toyota Revos taken from the Sangguniang Panlungsod office, the vice mayor’s office and the mayor’s office.
He asked why Calungsod did not relay to him first the report presented during the Regional Peace and Order council (RPOC) meeting last Friday.
He said Calungsod used to submit regular reports, but that he rarely receives them nowadays.
In his report to the RPOC, Calungsod said that compared to the same period last year, there was a 16 percent increase in index crimes and 10.5 percent increase in non-index crimes in Mandaue from January to August this year.
The report prompted Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who heads the RPOC, to offer to mediate between Mandaue’s executive and legislative branches.
Calungsod blamed the lack of patrol cars, which prompted Cortes to issue the police official a memorandum yesterday.
“Let me point out to you that I have warned you from making this (lack of vehicles) as an excuse for your dismal performance in maintaining law and order in the city,” read the memorandum.
“Reports even reached me that…you refused to utilize a Toyota Hilux SUV police vehicle for nighttime patrols (while) the Toyota Altis…assigned to you is again, reportedly, only devoted for your exclusive use,” Cortes said.
Fortuna, on the other hand, criticized Police Regional Office Director Ronald Roderos for agreeing to the report.
“Gen. Roderos should not cover the ineptitude and incompetence of his men,” he said.
Fortuna said he cannot see the connection between the rise in crime incidents and lack of mobility, as the police could still initiate visibility patrols.
In terms of personnel, barangay tanods and anti-crime volunteers also serve as “force multipliers,” so the lack of personnel should not serve as an excuse.
“They are finding an excuse for their own ineptitude,” he said, pointing out that the MCPO has not solved the Penbank and the Shell gas station robberies in the city.
He also argued that Compostela, Cebu officials are also bickering, but there is no increase in crime incidents in the northern town.
“Before he (Roderos) opens his mouth and blames other people, he should be aware of command responsibility, because peace and order is their primary role,” Fortuna said.
Cortes said they have been supporting the police.
Aside from vehicles, the City also provides 30 liters of gasoline per vehicle daily. Yet, he said, he rarely sees roving patrol cars.
He also discovered that one new motorcycle the City gave to the MCPO had its blinker removed when the gadget should have served to distinguish it from private motorcycles.
Fortuna, on the other hand, reminded Roderos what he said last year, that the unavailability of a police vehicle is “never an excuse” because policemen could always walk.
It was a comment on a Barangay Opao incident where 45-year-old Enrique Carello Torres was mauled and stabbed.
The police failed to respond even though the attack happened just 300 meters from the police station.
Roderos called it an embarrassment, and had Calungsod investigate desk officer PO3 Manolito Labus, PO2 Vicente Gila and PO1 Rico Senilong. (OCP)
