Rama: Peace, order should be top priority

CEBU, Philippines — Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said peace and order in the City of Cebu should always have been a top priority.

His statement came after he was asked about his thoughts on the recent bigtime pawnshop robbery.

“Security is a priority,” Rama emphasized in an interview with The Freeman columnist and DYHP’s Attorney Ruphil Banoc yesterday.

Unfortunately, Rama mentioned that he cannot do much about it now due to his suspension.

Interestingly, during all major jewelry store robberies in the last two years, Cebu City has only had a “caretaker” in charge.

Last November, Mayor Rama was in Australia for a long-overdue vacation when the robbery at Oro Sugbo occurred. In the latest incident earlier this month, he is under preventive suspension.

“We are a hub; security is a priority. As a highly-urbanized city, safety and peace and order should never be ignored,” Rama stressed.

Rama said the police should “really do their job.”

“Kita ka ato, saka ganing Gmelina ang tawo (referring to an akyat-bahay incident yesterday)… The situation is, dili nimo e ignore that the economy is not that good,” Rama added.

Rama further explained that the situation, from his point of view, is not only happening in Cebu City but all over the country.

“Sa kinatibok-an, dili ni Cebu City ra, it’s all over the country that there is a real concern… Karon mag abot ning mga real concern--it has to be given much focus,” Rama said.

However, as much as he wants to help, Rama said he is still under suspension.

“Unya karon kay preventively suspended ko, manghilabot ko, kasab-an pa ko…Musod kos City Hall, lahi pag interpretation..Manawag kog meeting, lahi pag interpretation..usahay it brings me to nowhere..excited na kog mubalik nako,” Rama said.

Rama mentioned that he is only in contact with former CCPO chief police colonel Ireneo Dalogdog for updates on the peace and order situation, even though he has already been replaced by PCol. Antonietto Y. Canete.

“Silent lang sa ko..lisod kayo(on Dalogdog’s departure from CCPO)…Akoy elected, I have the mandate but  I don’t want to add the comment, let now the police force do their job,” Rama said, adding that “different folks, different strokes.” —/LPM (FREEMAN)