Osmeña reconvenes PCAC

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Police Coordinating and Advocacy Council (PCAC) will have its first meeting today after Mayor Tomas Osmeña gave the go signal for the council to reconvene, ending a ten-month hiatus.

The PCAC was among 57 special councils that were abolished in July 2016 by Osmeña and were asked to justify their existence before they can be reconvened.

In a letter addressed to Osmeña, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, as the current chair, cited issues in the Cebu City Jail among the reasons why the council needed to be reconvened.

Labella said that the council will be aligning their programs and plans with the Mayor’s in maintaining the peace and order of the city.

In a press conference yesterday, Osmeña said he doesn’t have any directives yet for the council’s first meeting.

“Let’s just wait for the response. I don’t have any expectations,” he said.

Osmeña also said that Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak should be attending the meeting as the city’s Deputy Mayor for Police Matters.

To this, Tumulak said, “I would like to listen. Maminaw lang ko and then I’ll talk also with the mayor ug unsa iyang mga plano pud kay si Mayor as chief executive, he also has a plan  in terms of public order and safety of the city. So should be in line ang PCAC with the plan of the mayor.”

Cebu City Ordinance No. 229 known as the Ordinance Creating the PCAC as amended by Ordinance No. 2389, appoints the city’s Vice Mayor to chair the council.

The PCAC is a body tasked “to coordinate and monitor peace and order,” according to Cebu City Ordinance No. 229 known as the Ordinance Creating the PCAC as amended by Ordinance No. 2389.

The ordinance also stipulates that the chairmanship of the council be assigned to the office of the city’s vice mayor.

All the members of PCAC are expected to be present for the meeting today.

Labella also said that during the meeting, he will remind the members of the council of the importance of PCAC. — Charlene Cobol (FREEMAN)