No order to arrest officials who failed to return cars

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office has clarified that there was no order from the City Hall to arrest barangay officials who did not return their city-issued vehicles.

This clarification came after the arrest of Labangon barangay councilman Rodolfo Tabasa, who was arrested by two GSO employees and four policemen last June 10 after he failed to return his city-issued vehicle.

Through a letter, Cebu City Police Office acting director Senior Superintendent Benjamin Santos informed the City Council that there was no standing order to arrest barangay officials.

"This office wishes to inform the honorable body that there was no standing order for the arrest of the barangay officials who did not return their service vehicle to the city. However, the General Services Office, which was tasked to conduct inventory of government-issued vehicles by the city hall, sought the assistance of Cebu City Police Office personnel for security since that some barangay officials refuse to turn-over the said government issued vehicles," the letter reads.

Santos sent the letter in relation to Resolution 13-2505-2016 of the City Council, which requests the CCPO to inform the august body whether or not an order has been made.

Tabasa was one of the 47 barangay officials who failed to return the city-issued vehicle subject for recall pursuant to the memorandum signed by the acting mayor Margarita Osmeña last May 17.

Tabasa was released June 11 through an order from the Municipal Trial Court in Cities signed by Acting-Executive Judge Pamela Baring-Uy.

On June 17, Tabasa filed for unlawful arrest, serious illegal detention and kidnapping against Osmeña; Ronald Malacora, the officer-in-charge of GSO; the two GSO staff Kenneth Amar and Rafael Cabonillas; and the four policemen before the Office of the Ombudsman.

City Lawyer Eleodoro Diaz IV said that they have not received any copy of the complaint filed against them.

"How can we counter? Nga wala pa may na-receive na copy sa complaint," Diaz earlier said.

However, the city, through the city legal office, filed a motion for reconsideration and cancellation of the recognizance release of Tabasa.

According to Diaz, based on the result of the hearing last Monday, Tabasa was directed by the court to file a comment within five days over the MR they filed. (FREEMAN)