Osmeña seeks city police help over unreturned brgy vehicles

CEBU, Philippines -Cebu City acting mayor Margot Osmeña has sought the help of the police in retrieving city-owned vehicles from 59 barangays.

Osmeña went to the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the Cebu City Police Office yesterday to file a report.

"This is the first step… because I am not a lawyer, we will see what the next move is… we can always see what charges we can file," she said.

When she assumed as acting mayor, Osmeña directed an audit of the city's assets that include the vehicles issued to barangays.

As majority floor leader, she assumed as acting mayor following the suspension of Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, and 12 city councilors over the illegal disbursement of the P20,000 calamity aid to City Hall workers in 2013. 

Osmeña clarified she only wants an inventory of the vehicles.

"Di man ipa-uli, pang-inventory ra man… tan-awn lang nila ang registration, sila ba ang tag-iya, dili ba?" she said.

Asked what she will do if the barangays refuse to turn the vehicles in, Osmeña said she might have to seek the help of the city's lawyers.

She said 59 vehicles from 44 barangays have not been returned to the city just yet. So far, only 32 of the city's 80 barangays have returned the vehicles.

"Naa pay mga barangay nga wala pa iuli… dili tuod pasabot niana nga tagsa tagsa lang og barangay; naay mga uban barangay more than one vehicle," she said.

Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Jr., director of the Police Regional Office-7, said he has spoken with Cebu City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos, Jr., and the city police office will look into Osmeña's report and investigate if there is enough evidence to file a formal complaint against the barangay officials.

The report was entered formally into the police blotter.

Earlier, Labella asked Osmeña to spare the barangay vehicles because they are also being used for emergency purposes like ferrying patients to hospitals. They are also being used during funerals. — Mylen P. Manto/JMO (FREEMAN)