THE Cebu City Government has appropriated in next year’s annual budget P65 million for the peace and order program, which includes the monthly allowances of policemen assigned under Cebu City Police Office (CCPO). The City gives monthly allowance of P8,000 to the city director, P6,000 to sub-station commanders and P2,500 to non-commissioned officers. But starting next year, only those residing in and registered voters of Cebu City will get the allowance.
During the budget deliberation last Nov. 5, the City’s Peace and Order Program head Kevin Chester Paz said this was their proposal but the decision will still be up to the mayor. He said the granting of allowance is at the discretion of the chief executive.
Why the sudden change? Why is the “former political has-been” setting the criteria now? Policemen have been receiving the allowance for several years now. So too members of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) assigned in Cebu City. Regional Trial Court (RTC) and Municipal Trial Court (MTC) judges and prosecutors assigned in the city get the same benefits.
Is this because City Director Royina Garma and Police Regional Office 7 Chief Debold Sinas are at loggerheads with the “former political has-been’? He is making their conflict personal. Why punish the entire police force for this? Or is the “former political has-been” playing politics? Does he want the beneficiaries to vote for him and his entire slate in next year’s elections?
If we will follow his logic, the City will not also give allowances to BFP and BJMP personnel, judges and prosecutors not registered as voters of the city. It is just fair if the city will also impose the same criteria on them.
But Garma is unfazed, saying, “If they think that is fair, then go. I don’t care whether they will give or they will totally remove it. We will still work, may sweldo naman kami.”
I say that this is really unfair. We might as well scrap altogether the giving of these allowances to other national government personnel, especially for judges and prosecutors who might end up being biased in their decisions in cases involving City Hall and in the personal cases of the city’s chief executive.
If the “former political has-been” is really mad at Garma, why won’t he pull out again all the support the City gives to the police? Recall the vehicles and stop giving gasoline and other logistical support to them. Let’s see what will happen to our peace and order situation.
He did it before when he assumed office after winning the 2016 elections and his “demand” to have his choice of a city director appointed was not granted by the police hierarchy. But the National Police Commission (Napolcom) stripped him of his supervisory powers over the police.
He went to Davao City and sought an audience with President Duterte. He asked for forgiveness. Still, the President castigated him because of that issue.
The problem with this person is that he thinks he can control all people. He wants them to kneel before him. He treats people like his slaves. Ayaw na pahawod-hawod Nyor kay di na imo ang administrasyon ‘ron.