Mayor wants police chief to stay

IF  he had his way,  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he would want Senior Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe to stay as city police chief even if Buenafe already exceeds his two-year term limit.

Rama said the absence of vigilante-style killings and high-profile crimes were enough reason for him to keep Buenafe.

“Performance-wise, nindot.  There are no major complaints against him. Vigilantism, which  I really oppose,  has not returned.   We don’t have big crimes  committed, if there are cases, the suspects are apprehended and the crime is solved, said the mayor.

Rama said yesterday that he intends to keep Buenafe in place until after the May 2013 elections unless  Buenafe seeks a new assignment.

“The position of chief of police is based on trust and confidence.  You have to trust the person you have for a city director,” said Rama.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said Buenafe has  exceeded the two-year mandatory term of duty and has to be replaced as police chief so that he can move on and  be  promoted to a higher rank.

Garbo submitted to Mayor Rama a list of three  nominees as possible replacement.

The list includes Senior Supt. Erson Digal, head of PRO 7’s Regional Operations and Plans Division; Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel, chief of Regional Logistics Division; and Senior. Supt. Mariano Batiancila, Jr., chief of the Regional Headquarters and Services Group.

The mayor, who has not yet seen the list, said if necessary, he would make a selection  based on “what is needed for Cebu City”.

Rama said he would  consult the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) and Buenafe about the matter. /CHIEF OF REPORTERS DORIS C. BONGCAC