Carbon cop chief faces relief amid shootings

The police chief of the Carbon precinct will be relieved from his post on orders of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

The mayor acted after expressing irritation over Thursday’s noontime drive-by shooting in MC Briones Street, Carbon where a police asset was killed.

Rama said he wanted Chief Insp. Renero Agustin “taken out” of the precinct.

“The shooting happened in broad daylight. Diin man diay sila (Where were they)?”

Despite these blunders, Rama said he will consider increasing the allowances of policemen from City Hall depending on the availability of funds “so they won’t feel left out.”

A 39-year-old member of the defunct barangay intelligence network (BIN), Catalino Entoma, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Carbon market at noontime.

The Ermita resident was shot several times by a man riding in the back of a motorcycle in the streets of Carbon Market units 1 and 2.

Entoma and his girlfirend were walking along the street when the attack occured.

Entoma used to serve as a watch man in a downtown mall and arrested a theft suspect a few weeks ago.

A motorcycle-riding gunman also shot dead a 36-year-old police asset named Michael Moralde in barangay Ermita.

Four drive-by shootings were reported since Feb. 4, some involving armed men riding a sedan without a plate number.

Rama said he decided to convert M. C. Briones Street into a two-way street to make it accessible for the police.

The mayor said there was no need for him to inform Senior Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe, Cebu City police chief, about his order for the precinct commander’s relief.

If no action is made, Rama said he will order Buenafe to relieve Agustin. Rama said he would still increase the monthly allowances of city police from P2,000 to P3,000.

He said if the city could afford to give large allowances to the judges, there’s no reason why police shouldn’t also receive some benefits.

“Withdrawal of allowances is not a solution. But they should have to take my orders seriously so that they will not be removed,” he said.

Buenafe said Rama’s statement on the drive-by shootings will serve as a challenge to them to solve the cases.

He said they are coordinating with the Cebu provincial police to arrest the suspects.