OUTGOING Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is facing nine criminal charges and four administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
The criminal charges filed by Patrolman Romil Gelogo of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 against Osmeña include usurpation of official function, usurpation of authority, robbery and slander, while the administrative cases include grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and oppression.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas made the announcement last Wednesday afternoon, May 22.
Gelogo’s version
SunStar Cebu had yet to get Gelogo’s statement on the matter as of press time, but it also learned that Osmeña also sued Gelogo.
Gelogo had accused the mayor of carnapping and robbery after the latter allegedly seized his motorcycle and other items that included a cellular phone and a wristwatch at dawn last May 12.
According to him, he was driving his motorcycle past the gates of the Camp Sotero Cabahug, where the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is located, when Osmeña blocked his way.
Osmeña then called personnel of the City Transportation Office and had his motorcycle impounded.
The mayor, for his part, said he stopped Gelogo because the latter was wearing shorts and slippers. He then asked for the police officer’s identification card and badge, but Gelogo failed to present both.
Gelogo returned to the camp. A person of the traffic office tried to follow him to give him a citation but police closed the camp’s gate.
Osmeña had gone to the CCPO to check on two Sangguniang Kabataan officials and two others who were arrested for allegedly buying votes in Barangay Cogon Central Ramos on the night of May 11.
Sinas said he supported Gelogo’s move, adding that what Osmeña did affected police morale.
“Yes. We are supporting them because luoy pod kaayo tong pulis (I felt sorry for our police). Patrolman siya, ingon ato-on lang (He gets treated that way because he’s just a patrolman). Of course, we have to support our police,” he said.
Mayor’s account
Gelogo is facing criminal and administrative charges Osmeña filed before the Office of the Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices for failing to present documents of his confiscated motorcycle and for disobeying a person in authority.
Osmeña lodged a criminal complaint against Gelogo for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority or Agents of Such Person.
He also filed administrative charges against Gelogo for misconduct, violation of National Police Commission Circular 2016-002, Rule 21, Section 2 (A) (1) (g), violation of Land Transportation Office Administrative Order AHS 2008-015, Section X (e) and violation of Department of Transportation and Communication Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.
In his complaint affidavit, Osmeña said he stopped Gelogo because the latter was wearing slippers while driving his motorcycle, which is illegal.
When asked for identification, including a driver’s license, Gelogo told the mayor he left these at his boarding house. The police officer also did not have his badge with him.
When Osmeña noticed that Gelogo’s motorcycle did not have side mirrors, he asked for the vehicle’s registration. Gelogo, though, did not have it.
The mayor said Gelogo returned to the camp and left his motorcycle outside.
Osmeña said traffic personnel arrived in the area and issued a citation ticket and impounded Gelogo’s motorcycle. (WBS, RVC)