Garcia appoints Cañete as city police director

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has officially signed the recommendation for Police Colonel Antonietto Cañete to become the city director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

This announcement was made during the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Plaza Sugbo Grounds on Monday and reaffirmed in a subsequent press conference.

Garcia had previously mentioned that he had five candidates in mind for the CCPO leadership, including Cañete, who was serving as the acting city director.

He had also stated that he would not approve Cañete's recommendation if the twin robberies at Macy’s Jewelry Store and DGC DGold and Chain Jewelries on Calderon Street were not resolved.

Garcia expressed his satisfaction with Cañete's leadership, which led him to sign the recommendation.

"Tanan nga mga mahitabo from the robbery, so many other things nga iyang gyung gi implement, gi execute gyud nila akong order," said Garcia.

He noted that one of the immediate actions taken under Cañete's leadership was to increase police visibility around Cebu City, effectively utilizing the donated patrol cars.

"And then katong sa robbery sa downtown, I ordered him that I want to see results, and then cases were filed," said Garcia.

"And then these cases are airtight and naa gyuy ebidensya, and he was able to that as well," he added.

Garcia emphasized that while criminal acts cannot always be prevented, it is crucial to address them promptly, a task that the CCPO has been handling well under Cañete's watch.

Garcia also mentioned that he expects a more "serious and aggressive" approach in dealing with illegal drug-related crimes.

The acting mayor, in previous report, reiterated that if the twin robbery case is not resolved within the given timeframe, he might reconsider Cañete's leadership. The recommendation for Cañete to become the full-fledged city director had previously been in limbo.

Garcia stressed that the outcome of this case would significantly impact Cañete’s position as an officer-in-charge (OIC).

After a series of shooting incidents in the city, particularly on August 2, 2024, Garcia had been vocal about his expectations for Cañete in combating criminal activities, indicating that his final recommendation for Cañete as the city director has not yet been finalized.

On that single day, three separate shooting incidents occurred, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to two others. — (FREEMAN)