News Briefs

Rama threatens to cut allowances of police

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) may risk losing city government support if Camp Crame doesn’t grant Mayor Michael Rama’s request to choose his own city police director.

Rama said yesterday he’s still waiting for a copy of Natu-el’s May 10 appointment as city police director so he could forward this to the city legal office for review.

He questioned the PNP’s appointment of Natu-el, saying it was done while the election ban on appointments was still in effect.

News of Natu-el’s appointment came out after Rama announced his plan to double the city’s P2, 000 monthly allowance for the police.

“I don’t think of cutting off their allowance but if they remove me from getting involved (in the selection of a police director), then they (the police) will have to take care of peace and order,” he said.

Rama went to Manila last week to personally request PNP Director General Alan Purisima to appoint Senior Supt. Noli Romana as Cebu City police chief. Purisima asked him to submit the request in writing.

The mayor said he also spoke about his request to Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Police Regional Office (PRO-7) chief, who happens to be in Crame during his visit to Purisima.

Rama said he already had his letter hand carried to Crame by an emissary. Despite this, Natu-el remains as Cebu City police chief.

He said he has nothing against Natu-el but he wants to assert his authority to choose his own police chief.

The city government is giving counterpart fuel subsidy to police vehicles.

The city also assigned service vehicles to the police and gives each cop a P2,000 monthly allowance.

“They just have to put it on record that they do not need LGUs (so we can already cut off  the city’s subsidies to the police),” Rama said. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

Binay, Roxas to swear in Team Rama, BO-PK officials

THE top leaders of the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will administer the oaths of office of elected officials of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) and Team Rama respectively.

Vice President Jejomar Binay will swear in Team Rama winners led by re-elected Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama at the Plaza Independencia on June 30.

Rama said they are finalizing details with Binay’s staff for the occasion.

BO-PK will have Interior and Local Governments Secretary and LP President Mar Roxas to administer their oaths of office at the Malacañang sa Sugbo grounds.

Rama said just like their April 6 proclamation rally, they will also send invitations to Team Rama leaders and supporters in order to share their victory and oath taking ceremony with them.

“During our oath taking, I want all to be part of it…. I want them to be part of the historical event,” he said.

Rama will be joined by Vice Mayor-elect Edgar Labella and Councilors Mary Ann delos Santos (north district) and Dave Tumulak and Hanz Abella (south district). Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac