Rama asks PNP to act on peace and order

CEBU, Philippines - With the recent series of shootings, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama urged the police forces to act upon criminality in the city.

“I am bringing this to the attention of the Philippine National Police (PNP) both local and national level,” Rama told reporters.

The mayor emphasized the need to prioritize peace and order in the city.

“I would wish peace and order now will be a very important focus amidst our being awarded as the number 8 (top outsourcing hub in the country) unless there are people who wanted to sabotage,” Rama said.

By sabotage, the mayor referred to people who intentionally wanted to create an alarm which will then be “attributed to the mayor,”

If left unsolved, the succeeding shooting incidents could lead to vigilantism, which the mayor fears would resurrect.

“This might bring back bad memories in 2006. I have always been against vigilantism,” he said.

Apart from killing incidents, Rama also pointed out rising carnapping cases in Cebu City.

Apparently, a syndicate involving foreigners operate in the city, he added.

Rama said he has talked to Cebu City Police Chief Mariano Natuel about his concerns.

Asked if he implies pushing for a city police chief whom he favors, the mayor explained it would be better if he has knowledge of the police chief’s credentials.

“That has been my position all the time. But this time, it’s their challenge now. Ila na na. Because what am I supposed to do, deal with a police force whom I have not worked with?” he explained.

With the challenge posed to the police force, he wished “all of them would be challenged to serve and protect under the rule of law and not rule of men.”

Natuel said 90 percent of the 26 shooting incidents that transpired in the city since he assumed his post as officer-in-charge of CCPO has been solved.

While the police may be partly to blame for the rise of shooting incidents in the city, he said most of the crimes were spurred by personal grudges, which cannot be prevented.

“90 percent of shooting incidents, ang motive ani is more on personal grudges or drunkenness. For example nahubog mo diha unya nagkalalis, lisod ni sila i-prevent kay sudden kini na mga panghitabo (…the motive is more on personal grudges or drunkenness. If they are drunk and get into a fight, this would be hard to prevent because these are sudden incidents),” Natuel explained.

Natuel further said they can do so much as intensify their beat patrol system and checkpoints to prevent would-be criminals from committing crimes.

The CCPO OIC said they are also intensifying their efforts against the proliferation of loose firearms, which most of the shooters used.

“Maybe partly to be blamed ang PNP (Philippine National Police) number one because of the proliferation of loose firearms which are easy to acquire gud kay naa sa Cebu ang illegal manufacturing,” said Natuel.

Even if someone else is tasked to lead CCPO, the same shooting incidents spurred by personal grudges will happen, said Natuel.

“Bisa’g kinsa pa ang mulingkod diri, di ‘na nato mapugngan because that is beyond our control. (Regardless of whoever occupies this position, we cannot prevent these incidents which are beyond our control),” said Natuel, adding that he will just perform his functions as OIC of CCPO even though he is not Mayor Rama’s choice.

Meanwhile, two men died after they were shot in separate incidents in the city recently.

Victim Ronaldo Decinan, 39, who has allegedly been convicted for illegal drug use, died after he was shot on the head and stomach by Claudio Alipio, 40, who claimed self-defense.

The two reportedly met along the road in Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City at 6 am and wrestled. Decinan allegedly accused Alipio, a former police asset, of reporting him to the police.

Alipio was injured in the head after Decinan struck him with a gun, which Alipio was able to grab and shot Decinan.

Alipio then voluntarily surrendered to Barangay Captain Ramil Rago right after the incident.

In a separate incident, dispatcher Freddie Fuentes died after he was also shot by an unidentified perpetrator at Colon St. at 8 pm last Sunday.

Fuentes, who also worked as a dishwasher at a barbeque stall, was washing plates when he was shot. The victim, who was also an ex-convict, reportedly had many enemies, police said.  (FREEMAN)