Policemen are still protectors of citizens

For our special presentation on our talk show Straight from the Sky, we bring you a high-tech story, which we do not usually talk about because not many people are high-tech in nature. I’m referring to an app or application called SugbuTech, of which our guest Mr. Clayd B. Dedicatoria is president and CFO. It is an application that smartphones should have in preparation for something untoward that could happen. While Mandaue City adopted it, it is unfortunate that Cebu City failed to secure it.

As what Dedicatoria pointed out, when you have the SugbuTech app, when there is a potential disaster, your app maybe the only thing that works on your phone especially when cellsites are down. The reason why SugbuTech was created was due to what happened in Tacloban during supertyphoon Yolanda when it was difficult if not impossible to locate people with cellphones. SugbuTech has found a way to fix things when things get awry or natural disasters get in our way.

So watch this very interesting show with Mr. Clayd B. Dedicatoria on SkyCable’s channel 53 at 8 p.m. with replays on Wednesday and Saturday same time and channel. We also have replays on MyTV’s channel 30 at 9 p.m. Monday and at 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.

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Today is the 449th founding anniversary of Cebu Province, this is why today is a holiday in the entire Cebu Island. While it is a month-long celebration, frankly speaking, I really don’t know why Cebu Province is giving this occasion a month-long celebration for there really is nothing to celebrate especially under the leadership of Governor Hilario “Junjun” Davide. But never mind, let him have this celebration.

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Before we talk about anything else, allow me to congratulate the Archdiocese of Cebu for coming up with the “Salamat Padre” Program yesterday in honor of the Feast of St. John Vianney, the patron saint for parish priests. This is the first time I have ever heard the Catholic Church thank and honor its parish priests.

I guess it is the best way for the Commission of the Laity led by Mrs. Fe Barino to show our gratitude to our priests who work in our churches for better or for worse. I guess it’s the best way of showing the world we give importance to the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Life. So to all priests and bishops reading this column, please allow me to thank you for your service to the Lord and to the communities you service. God bless you all for showing your love for our priests.

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Allow me to thank Cebu City Police Office director, Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, for being brutally frank when she was told that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña had accused the police of coddling hitmen and blamed them for the spate of killings in Cebu City and other parts of Cebu Province in the past month. To us lay people the police are our protectors, and when Mayor Osmeña accused the police of vigilantism he must show proof that this is true and not just a figment of his imagination.

Garma said: “Kung ‘yan opinion mo, that’s your right. Puwede mong isipin, but to express it, there should be a proof.” If there is anything that our local politicians should never do it is to impress upon their constituents that the police can no longer be trusted to protect the security of our people. In his press conference last week, Mayor Osmeña said the problem is the present leadership of the city police. “The problem is in the police now. Not the police per se but the police now. We have no problems ni Doria (former Cebu City Police Office chief Joel Doria). Hapsay gud. Hapsay g’yud.”

But if you ask me what the real problem is, it is that Garma is not an acolyte of Mayor Osmeña. Hence his latest pronouncement was to cut all the expenses that Cebu City pays to the police. In short the police would have to pay for their vehicle maintenance. In short, this word war with the police and the mayor will mean problems for Cebu City constituents! Just mark my words!

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