THE top cop in Central Visayas has instructed his provincial and city police directors to only accept fully donated items from the local government units.
This is to ensure that the donations could not be taken back by a disgruntled local executive, according to Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas.
“If they will give us, it should be absolute donations. Then we’ll sign all the papers. We’ll assure all the local chief executives that we’ll use (their donations) properly,” he said.
Under Section 51 of Republic Act (RA) 6975 (Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990), as amended by Section 64 of RA 8551, mayors and governors are automatically deputized as representatives of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in their respective jurisdictions.
As deputized agents, they are authorized to inspect police forces and units, conduct audit, and exercise other functions as may be authorized by the Napolcom. They are also required to support their local police forces.
According to Sinas, he had a bad experience with a public official, whom he did not identify, after the latter took back logistical support for a lower police unit after his demands were not granted.
In the past months, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), including its chief Royina Garma, has been criticized by outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña for its failure to solve several incidents.
For Sinas, the situation might change with mayor-elect and outgoing Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who has promised to support the CCPO. Labella defeated Osmeña in the mayoral race last May 13.
Labella vowed to give additional patrol cars that will be used in conducting surveillance in mountain barangays.
Sinas said he is glad with the latest developments at City Hall, including the planned standardization of allowance for the city police.
The police official told CCPO Director Royina Garma to present her proposals to the incoming administration of Labella.
The PRO 7 has been paying for the CCPO’s gasoline expenses after Osmeña cut the budget to P300,000 from P600,000.
Sinas is also hopeful that the new leadership at City Hall will act on his request for donations of lots where they can construct new police stations.
Of the 11 police stations under the CCPO, only the lot where the Guadalupe Police Station stands is owned by the police.
Sinas said he told Labella about the planned police station in Barangay Inayawan, which might push through this time. The construction was derailed after Inayawan Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo didn’t want it built on the site picked by police, saying it would be a traffic obstruction and hazard. (WBS)