City Hall has new security chief

CEBU, Philippines - The former chief of the Liloan Police Station has been appointed by Mayor Michael Rama as the City Hall’s chief security officer effective last Wednesday.

Several months after Senior Inspector Ramon Ortiz had retired from police service, he visited Rama at the City Hall and the mayor reportedly offered to him the post that was previously handled by Romeo Cordova.

Rama did not renew the contract of Cordova, who had a misunderstanding with the mayor’s executive officer, Philipp Zafra.

“Dugay na mi nga amigo si mayor. Pagbisita nako niya gipangutana ko niya og unsay akong trabaho, ug gitanyagan ko niya nga mag-head sa security personnel dinhi sa City Hall,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz had enjoyed the compulsory retirement age of 56 from the police service. He is still 57 years old now, so he still has eight years more to serve as chief security officer of City Hall if his appointment will be approved by the Civil Service Commission.

In an interview, Ortiz said he still observing what security measures that need to be adopted at the City Hall to ensure the safety of the city officials and personnel, as well as the public in general.

During the stint of then mayor and now Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña, the members of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) were the ones securing the City Hall.

But when Rama assumed as mayor last year he immediately replaced the BIN personnel manning the City Hall entrance with members of private security agency.

“I want that there will be somebody responsible if something will happen at the City Hall because we cannot hold the BIN members responsible as they are civilians and not employed by the City,” Rama earlier told the reporters. (FREEMAN)