WITH a new mayor in City Hall on June 30, good relations between the police and the Cebu City Government can finally start, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas said.
He lamented that his personnel does not have a good working relationship with City Hall under the administration of outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
“We hope nga dili na antagonistic at dili na against gyud sa police kase katong kaniadto nga administration morag wala na toy nakita kung dili mga dautan nga police lang (We hope that they will not be antagonistic and against the police because the outgoing administration always thinks the police are the bad guys),” he said.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella ran against re-electionist Osmeña and won in the May 13 midterm elections.
His group is affiliated with Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan, the party of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Sinas said Osmeña often criticized the police and labeled them as bad elements.
The police official is hopeful that the administration of Labella will provide the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) with gasoline, vehicles and other useful assets.
Sinas further said the construction of the new police station in Barangay Inayawan may push through under Labella’s leadership.
PRO 7’s project failed to push through after Inayawan Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo, an Osmeña ally, blocked it.
Sinas said he has not returned to Camp Crame yet the funds for the building’s construction.
Ever since Police Colonel Royina Garma assumed the post of CCPO director last year, Sinas said he never heard Osmeña praise Garma.
He said he will support Garma, who plans to file a libel complaint against the outgoing mayor for accusing her of accepting P1 million in illegal gambling payola weekly.
On Wednesday, May 15, Police Patrolman Romil Granada Gelogo of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 will file a carnapping complaint against Osmeña.
Osmeña apprehended Gelogo on Sunday, May 12, after seeing the latter in shorts and slippers while driving a motorcycle.
The outgoing mayor reportedly called the traffic personnel and instructed them to impound Gelogo’s motorcycle. (From AYB of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)