Tom gets update on peace and order

CEBU, Philippines - Apart from the South Road Properties, Mayor Tomas Osmeña also included the city’s police force on his priority list by meeting with city police officials in his first day of work since returning to Cebu the other day.

Present in the meeting were city police director Patrocinio Comendador and his deputy for operations Pablo Labra.

In a press conference after the meeting, Osmeña told reporters he was merely doing a “housekeeping job” by asking the police officials what they need — from communication, transportation and other logistical concerns.

“Being a police is not an easy job. It is not a matter of giving them orders, telling them what to do... The deterioration of peace and order has something to do with the kind of support we give or don’t give them,” Osmeña said.

The city police has just been augmented with the donation of two brand new US-made Dodge Charger police cars donated by Bigfoot Global Solutions as surprise gifts for Osmeña.

“I knew he was doing it but I didn’t know he will push through with it,” Osmeña said, referring to Bigfoot founder Michael Gleissner.

“I thought he was going to get second hand and not brand new. I mean, there are a lot of good second hand or surplus…it’s straight from the factory,” he added.

A 2009 Dodge Charger costs $21,468 or close to P1 million pesos if bought directly from source, according to its manufacturer’s website.

The said police cars will be used solely for the mayor’s priority project, the 302-hectare South Reclamation Project where Bigfoot’s new state-of-the-art film studios would be erected. 

In a separate interview, Comendador said Osmeña did not necessarily give specific instructions on any concern but listened more to briefing they gave him as regards the city’s peace and order situation.

“He asked about the morale of the policemen and we told him that we are still very upbeat,” Comendador said. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)