CEBU, Philippines – The operation of the Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division has been placed under the supervision of the Cebu City Attorney’s Office to ensure that the city’s clearing team will not violate laws in their day-to-day activities.
Executive Order 09-91 was issued and signed by Vice Mayor Michael Rama while the latter was still the acting mayor last March 5, or five days before Mayor Tomas Osmeña arrived from the United States and assumed back as mayor.
Rama said it is proper that the SPEED office shall be placed under the direct supervision of the Office of the City Attorney, which is a competent unit to interpret and enforce local and national laws that may be relative to the mandate of SPEED.
He explained that it is recognized that the day-to-day operation of the members of SPEED is fully impressed with law enforcement that is why it is very necessary to place them under close supervision of the city attorney’s office.
For purposes of administration and supervision of SPEED, the city attorney is hereby authorized to designate any of his “organic” legal officers to act as the SPEED supervisor whose job is to take charge of their activities.
That is why Rama ordered that all communications, referrals and other information for SPEED shall be addressed to the city attorney’s office.
Rama said that grievances pertaining to acts involving SPEED personnel shall be handled by the legal officer who will be assigned to that clearing team who shall make the necessary recommendation to the city attorney, who in turn shall refer the matter to the mayor for further action. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)