Doria remains mum; No reassignment yet for San Nicolas cops

CEBU, Philippines - San Nicolas police personnel yesterday continued reporting to their station in the absence of a reassignment order from the Cebu City Police Office director.

The policemen have been stripped of their incentives from the city government over reports that illegal gambling activities continued to proliferate in the station’s jurisdiction.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he won’t reinstate the incentives unless a new set of personnel will be assigned in the station.

The cops allegedly played what are known as mole-mole, video karera, and swertres. Osmeña also believed that many barangay officials in Pasil are involved in gambling operations.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Noli Taliño said it’s up to the discretion of Cebu City Police Office Director Joel Doria if it is feasible to relieve simultaneously all police officers assigned in San Nicolas Police Station.

“Pwede naman yun palitan lahat if makatulong sa maintenance ng peace and order,” he said, adding if all police officers will be relieved from their posts, there must be smooth transition of the incoming and outgoing officers.

But Doria has declined to give a statement on the issue, only saying the police can still perform their duties with or without incentives.

Superintendent Artemio Ricabo, CCPO deputy director for administration, said they would respect the decision of the city government in suspending the allowances to San Nicolas police. 

The city government gives P4,000 per month for non-commission officer and non-uniform personnel, P6,000 for police officers with ranks of Police Inspector, Police Senior Inspector, and Police Chief Inspector; P8,000 for the CCPO director and P7,000 for the assistant director. 

Taliño said giving allowance to police officers is discretionary of the mayor.

However, he said he told his men before that with or without allowance, they still have to perform their jobs well. If not, then they will be subjected to investigation.

Denial

Pasil Barangay Captain Julius Guioguio denied allegations they are in cahoots with cops in the illegal gambling operations.

In fact, he said he cooperates with law enforcers everytime they conduct raids in his barangay.

“Bisan unsa na illegal wa ko nag-protect... Wala’y makatulisok nako nga mga player sa illegal gambling. Bisan bag-o pa ko,” Guioguio said yesterday.

Guioguio was amenable with the challenge of Osmeña to relieve all the cops in the station, including station commander Chief Inspector Keith Anthony Andaya.

“Ang existing, di maayo mag-continue… Uyon ko ana, at least makita gyud og naa’y kausaban,” he said.

Guioguio, however, admitted the presence of illegal gambling activities in his barangay, such as video karera, based on reports he received.

In order to address this concern, Pasil barangay tanods will roam around in the different areas in the barangay, he said.

“Wa gyud mi magkuwang sa paghimangno nga mag-undang kay dili maayo labi ma naa’y mga bata pwede makaduwa,” Guioguio further said.

Barangay Captain Abraham Desamparado of San Nicolas Proper said such illegal activities are not present in his area, noting that they are rampant in barangays Suba and Pasil. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Mylen P. Manto and Odessa O. Leyson (FREEMAN)