Labella asks Ombuds help in CCPO chief issue

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City acting mayor Edgardo Labella is asking the Office of the Ombudsman in Manila to step into the issue on the recent appointment of the new chief of the Cebu City Police Office.

In his January 12 letter, Labella stressed that there is an existing law that gives authority to the city mayor to choose the chief of police from a list of five eligible police officials recommen-ded by the police director.

“…I am humbly requesting the assistance or intercession of the Office of the Ombudsman so that the procedure laid down by law in the selection of the chief of police of the Cebu City Office may be properly observed,” read Labella’s letter.

Last Saturday,  an order from Camp Crame took effect designating Senior Superintendent Benjamin Santos Jr. as officer-in-charge of the CCPO to replace Senior Superintendent Marciano Batiancela Jr.

“It is relevant to state in this regard that Santos was not on the list of five eligible recommended by the provincial police director to be chief of the CCPO,” Labella’s letter to the Ombudsman read.

Labella disclosed that on the list of eligible officials provided to him, he wanted to choose  Batiancela as the permanent CCPO director, a desire he even expressed in a separate letter he earlier sent to the national headquarters of the Philippine  National Police.  His option had the approval of suspended Mayor Michael Rama, the City Hall’s Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, and the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

But Labella clarified to reporters yesterday that his letter addressed to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales was plainly a letter and not a complaint.

“I    am  not  questioning  Santos as the appointee but (I raise my query) on the manner or procedure of the appointment that is not in accordance with the existing law,” he said.

He cited that the termination on Batiancela’s designation as the acting chief of CCPO was “done unilaterally” by the National Police Commission but “without the courtesy” of a consultation with the mayor.

Labella wanted to make clear that he has nothing against Santos, who paid a courtesy call to him yesterday afternoon.

Santos, for his part, admitted that he, too, was surprised on his appointment as the acting Cebu City police director by the national headquarters and was confused why no one from the recommended policemen had been chosen.

However, he said he is hoping Labella will give him a chance to serve the city.

“Siyempre, dapat sana choice niya yun. But sana, pagbigyan naman tayo ng pagkakataon na makilala tayo. Hoping magkaroon ng understanding,” said Santos.

He said though that the issue is not an isolated case as the revamp was done nationwide.  (FREEMAN)