CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama renewed his call to the Philippine National Police to let him choose the city chief of police as his lawful privilege being the local chief executive.
Rama reiterated his intentions of getting the chance to have the top police official of his choice in the city following the recent peace and order challenge wherein a school owner and doctor was attacked by unidentified armed men.
While he acknowledged reports saying that the current chief of police, Mariano Natu-el, Jr., has solved several crimes since he assumed as acting chief in January after his predecessor Melvin Buenafe left the position vacant, he stressed that peace and order is best managed through crime prevention.
"Ang pagdumala sa peace and order, dili man gud na padaghanay og nasulbad nga krimen. Crime prevention ang labing importante. Kinahanglan creative. Pa-braytanay og strategies on how to prevent crimes from happening," he said.
He then referred to the times when former chief Josephus Angan and Buenafe were leading the city police force.
"During the time of Angan and Buenafe, less crimes happened. They were both my choice," he added.
The mayor reiterated that he has no personal problems with the existing chief but with how his appointment came on May 10.
"Unsa ma'y naa sa ilang utok nga election ban pa man tong panahona? They have the nerve to do such actions," Rama questioned.
Natu-el, for his part, is not leaving his post unless an order from Camp Crame directs him to step down.
Rama has not stopped lobbying for his choice, Noli Romana, who is currently the provincial chief of police in Negros Oriental.—(FREEMAN)