Manna from Margot: Cops “recalled” over sandwich

CEBU, Philippines — Police Regional Office-7 director Brigadier General Debold Sinas has “recalled” all members of the City Mobile Force Company assigned to conduct checkpoint in front of the residence of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña in Barangay Guadalupe after a video of them receiving sandwiches from the mayor’s wife, Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, on Maunday Thursday was posted on social media.

Sinas said the police should not have accepted the sandwiches offered to them for two reasons—security and delicadeza.

“Supposedly dili mi mudawat, we will ask them why…kay supposedly…(it’s one way) to be impartial. Mura’g karon ipa-recall nato ang pulis didto,” Sinas said.

(We are not supposed to accept. We will recall the police from there)

Recall means that the augmented personnel will report back to their mother unit, which is the CMFC under Police Major Chuck Barandog. Guadalupe Police Station commander Captain Dexter Basirgo said the checkpoint in front of the mayor’s residence last Thursday was conducted by the CMFC.

Barandog, in a text message to The FREEMAN, said they will comply with the order of the regional commander.

“Kung unsa gisulti ni RD (regional director) mao na na. Naa na pud mi na-receive (nga) recall order,” Barandog said.

(What the regional director had said, that’s it. We have also received the recall order)

Barandog, however, could not give the exact number of personnel subject of the recall order.  After the incident, Sinas reminded all police personnel to exercise caution in receiving something especially if it comes from candidates.

“I will remind our policemen to be careful next time…so nahitabo na to... Okay na to sa amoa,” he said.

In her Facebook post, Margot questioned Sinas’ action: “Why will he punish the officers outside our house just for accepting a little food on Holy Thursday?"

The mayor also made a separate post on Facebook criticizing the police official for being “petty.”

"How petty of you, General Sinas. If you want a sandwich also, just say so," the mayor’s post  reads.

As of last night, the post had 619 various reactions and was shared 23 times by netizens. On Maunday Thursday, the mayor posted on social media a video clip showing his wife giving sandwiches to the police conducting checkpoint outside their residence.

In the video, Margot first approached the team leader, who refused the sandwiches. The councilor went on to the other police officer telling him to accept it.

“Dawata, dawata, dili mana bribe (take it, take it, it is not a bribe)” Margot was heard telling the police in the video.

The mayor had been crying harassment against the police for allegedly conducting checkpoints in front of the houses of barangay captains allied to him. He accused the police of “terrorizing” his political supporters to favor his opponent.

Sinas denied the accusations saying, “We are just doing our job.”

According to Sinas, the checkpoints are being conducted randomly with the approval of the Commission on Elections. The house visitations to the barangay officials are allegedly part of the campaign against loose firearms to ensure that the conduct of the May 13 elections will be peaceful.

“Nagtuyok na ang checkpoint, it just so happened nga part sa Oplan Katok. As to his claim, no comment, we are just doing our job ask the COMELEC,” Sinas said.

(Checkpoints are being rotated and part of Oplan Katok). (FREEMAN)