Rama to cops: Solve 3 crimes

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama has ordered the police to solve three high-profile crimes as he travels to Manila to attend President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) and a League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) meeting.

In an interview with The Freeman, Rama said he already directed Cebu City Police Office Director Ireneo Dalogdog to solve the brutal attack on a well-known dentist, the killing of a 19-year-old woman whose body was dumped in Barangay Tisa, and the reported abduction of a Chinese businessman and two others at the Carbon Market.

“They should be on top!” Rama said, warning that there would be consequences if they are not solved.

“I already made a very clear warning to the chief of police (Dalogdog) not to give me any reason, or any, for what I call drastic change (at CCPO), “ he said.

He is pushing through with his plan to attend the second SONA today as well as the LCP meeting, him being the organizations national president.

The meeting, the LCP third convergence meeting, which includes the 75th National Executive Board Meeting, is in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

The LCP convergence meeting carries with it the theme “LCP in Action: Connected, Creative, Challenge-Ready.”

“The event, highlighting the forward-looking stance of the League in addressing evolving urban challenges through collaboration and co-creation, is crucial in establishing future ready and action-oriented cities,” read part of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum.

Rama, though, said the DILG memo came in a bit late for LGU officials and department heads to process their travel.

He still hoped for a good number of attendees and more importantly, fruitful discussions in the two-day event.

Rama also said Vice President Sara Duterte had been invited to join the LCP gathering.

After the LCP meeting, he will return to Cebu City for the third leg of this year’s APEC Business Council Advisory Council meeting at NuStar Resort & Casino, South Road Properties on July 27 to 30, 2023.

Rama, though, has not yet received the final details of the APEC-ABAC meeting, but assured that the security and safety of the participants is the City’s top priority. — (FREEMAN)