CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City officials are once again divided, this time on the appointment of city police director Sr. Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Jr.
While the city council passed a resolution congratulating Natu-el on his appointment as permanent city director, the mayor and his allied councilors called it irregular.
“I am not involved (in choosing the police chief). The mayor should be involved. The designation is irregular,†Mayor Michael Rama told reporters after confirming he received his furnished copy of the appointment.
He insisted his right as the local chief executive to choose the city police chief as provided for under Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National
Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
Section 63 of the law states that the city or municipal mayor shall have the “authority to choose the chief of police from a list of five eligible recommended by the provincial police director, preferably from the same province, city or municipality.â€
On the other hand, a congratulatory resolution was proposed by councilors Jun Pe, Margot Osmeña, and Alvin Dizon which was passed during yesterday’s legislative session.
Pe, Osmeña, and Dizon all belong to Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
Rama’s ally in the outgoing council, Councilor Joey Daluz questioned the resolution stressing that Natu-el’s appointment on May 10 violated the election ban.
Vice Mayor Joy Young said the resolution was about congratulating the city police chief so it should not be about when and how the appointment was granted.
Natu-el was initially appointed as officer- in-charge in January after assuming the position that was vacated by former CCPO chief Melvin Buenafe in December.— (FREEMAN)