Council asks DILG to probe Tom’s memos

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has urged the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government to investigate the alleged “questionable” memoranda issued by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

These include the memoranda on the recall of minibuses and ambulances from some barangays, creation of barangay mayor’s office, termination of 540 barangay health workers, closure of Cebu City United Vendors Association office, recall of 254 city-issued firearms, the removal of the city’s counterpart in the honorarium of barangay workers, and Osmeña’s decision to stop in the fight against illegal drugs.

“Akong ipadayag ang dakung suliran ug bug-at nga pagbati nga gihambin karon sa mga katawhan didto tungod sa nagsunod-sunod nga mando ni City Mayor Tomas Osmeña nga bawion ang mga ambulansya, mini-bus ug ubang mga kahigayonan aron unta motubag sa nag-una ug dagkong suliran sa atong mga kaigsoonon sa maong mga dapit,” said Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. in a privilege speech.

Osmeña and his wife, Councilor Margarita Osmeña, are still in Japan to celebrate their birthdays and wedding anniversary.

On the recall of minibuses and ambulances, Alcover, vice chairman of the council’s committee on peace and order, said he fears the absence of the vehicles would affect the delivery of basic services in the barangays affected.

Osmeña reportedly asked Barangays Babag, Agsungot, and Cambinocot to return their ambulances and minibuses to the city for “inventory” and to further train personnel under the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF).

Ronal Malacora, head of the city’s General Services Office had defended Osmeña, saying some of these barangays have two ambulances.

But Alcover said, “Daghan na ang mipadayag sa ilang mga pagbati uban ang pangutana; unsa may nahitabo sa atong mayor sa syudad nga naghinubra na ang pamolitika nga nahimo hinoong selfish o sobrang pagkahauk, ilabina sa kadtong dili niya kaalyado sa politika.”

Alcover also said the creation of a barangay mayor’s office can create possible “chaos” among personnel in the barangays. He said that unlike the barangay health workers who were terminated — albeit ordered to reapply — personnel of the barangay mayor’s office are not trained.

He said it is the barangay captains who have the right to terminate the health workers because it was the barangays that hired them.

On the recall of the 254 assorted firearms from the department heads, Cebu City Police Office, barangay officials, and city officials, Alcover said peace and order in the city is at the risk of being affected.

“Atong nasayran nga ang memo ni City Mayor Osmeña susama sa ubang memo nga nagtakuban sa pulong nga imbentaryo apan confiscatory diay,” Alcover pointed out.

Osmeña’s decision to stop giving counterpart for the honorarium of barangay workers only shows his “hatred” for barangays not allied with his party, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Meanwhile, Alcover said the city’s peace and order should not be compromised by the mayor’s refusal to support the police’s campaign against illegal drugs. He pointed out that as mayor, Osmeña is mandated by law to ensure the safety of his constituents.

“Dili kinahanglan ibutang sa kakuyaw ang syudad sa Sugbo ug mga katawhan niini tungod lamang sa pagdumili nga suportahan sa mayor sa syudad sa Sugbo ang mga programa sa kalinaw ug kahusay, paglambo sa panginabuhi, ug paghatod sa maayong serbisyo ngadto sa sugboanon,” Alcover said.

Osmeña’s ally in the Council, Sisinio Andales, said there is presumption of validity in Osmeña’s issuances.

Vendors

Outside the legislative building during the council session, hundreds of members of the Cebu City United Vendors Association (CCUVA) gathered in a rally to protest Osmeña’s decision to close the Unit 3 of Carbon Market where its office used to be.

CCUVA honorary chairman and Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta believed that politics has something to do with the closure of the office.

Rupinta has been supporting former mayor Michael Rama, Osmeña’s rival.

“Pait kaayo’s tanan gikontrahan man ang barangay Ermita og maayo, sa akong sabot basig nasuko siya kay sa among barangay, pwerti mang pildiha nila,” Rupinta said.

The mayor already said he will not welcome all CCUVA members and Rupinta to his office. (FREEMAN)