Osmeña “clueless” how to stop killings

CEBU, Philippines — With the series of killings in Cebu City, Mayor Tomas Osmeña admitted he is clueless on how to address the rising criminality in his turf.

In a Facebook live interview with Rappler last Friday, the mayor said the “not-so-good” relationship with the police officials is something that he is not used to.

“At this point, I don’t know. But I will tell you something, I promise the Cebuanos that I will be responsible. But right now, I don’t know what to do. Just give me time because the problem is coming from within. So, it’s not something I’m used to,” the mayor said.

However, Osmeña said the integration of the Special Weapons and Tactics and the Mobile Patrol Group might help address the matter.

Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma has yet to approve this proposal.

Osmeña has been very open in expressing his reservations on the newly-installed officials in the police force.

In his official Facebook account, the mayor said the “uncertainty” felt by Cebuanos on the peace and order matter is not new.

In 1980s, he said there were rebels who were responsible for the series of killings during his first term as mayor of the city.

“This is not my first dance. The only difference is now I am fighting people in government and not rebels against government,” he said.

Osmeña responded to a comment of a netizen who expressed concern over the safety of the mayor after the mayor posted the message warning him of what seems to be a plot to kill him.

While saying he is afraid over his safety, the mayor said he should not abandon his post. 

Osmeña said the public should not worry over his safety since the trust that the Cebuanos are giving him is the “best security.”

“That is why I am making these texts public, because if the warnings really are serious, the ones who wish to do harm now know they will not get off so easily. The deterrent of knowing that taking me comes at a price is better than any body guard I can hire,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Limuel Obon, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), has assured residents of Lapu-Lapu City have nothing to be afraid of, even with the recent shooting incidents last week.

"Mao na akong gisulti pirmi, nothing to be alarmed. For as long as you're a peace-loving citizen, and wala kay sekreto gitago, no need to worry," Obon told reporters.

On August 8, Wednesday, at least two separate shooting incidents were recorded by police - in Barangays Punta Engaño and Buaya.

In Barangay Punta Engaño, 42-year-old Butch "Totsie" Rosales, a member of a cause-oriented group, was shot in the head three times by one of the two motorcycle-riding assailants, while the victim was riding a jeepney at Sitio Maxima, Barangay Punta Engaño around 12:30 p.m.

The gunman reportedly boarded the jeep where Rosales was and eventually shot him.  The assailant reportedly walked away and rode the motorcycle parked a few meters away from the crime scene.

On the same day at around 8 p.m., businessman Ferdinand Teresito Kintanar, 49, was shot dead by an unknown gunman at his residence in Sitio Saac, Barangay Buaya.

The victim was standing outside their house and was shot several times.

Kintanar's case reportedly has angles on family property dispute, while internal conflict within the cause-oriented organization was the possible motive in the death of Rosales, the police claimed.

These cases, however, remained unresolved.

Obon, however, assured that investigators are doing their part in identifying the perpetrators so that justice will be served soon.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing is confident that the police will solve all the cases of separate killings in the city, as the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) is reportedly performing well in line with their anti-criminality efforts.

MCPO Director Julian Entoma has been updating him on the recent cases and that there have been leads to those incidents, according to the mayor.

“The recent incidents will be reflected, but of course, that still reflects a very good performance by the MCPO. I have no doubt that they will be able to solve these crimes,” he said.

MCPO has recorded at least nine cases of shooting incidents wherein six were killed, while three others survived.  Quisumbing said he is not alarmed about the matter.

“Let me reiterate that, though the incidents may have been successive, the crime rate in Mandaue City continues to be at historical low. As a matter of fact, the index crime rate that includes murder, rape, robbery, etcetera has fallen 15 percent in 2018,”Quisumbing said.

He said he trusts Entoma's leadership and that the latter will be able to resolve these cases soon. —,Christell Fatima M. Tudtud/GAN (FREEMAN)