As mayor cuts support: Help pours in, NGOs to sustain reward system

CEBU, Philippines - While Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña pulled out his support in the fight against illegal drugs, the police have found more allies in the crusade, with more helping hands coming in.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Noli Taliño said many "peace-loving" non-government organizations have pledged to support the reward system for successful operations against illegal drugs.

He, however, did not divulge the background and names of the said organizations.

He said he could not also determine yet if the reward was similar to that granted by Osmeña for every drug personality killed in lawful operations or for every arrest.

Osmeña had been giving P50,000 for every drug lord and peddler neutralized. But he recently stopped the reward system, seemingly upset over the major revamp in the Philippine National Police which caused the relief of Cebu City Police Office chief Benjamin Santos, whom he said was one of the best city directors he had worked with.

Taliño explained that the reshuffling was implemented by Camp Crame as part of the advocacy on change under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and "internal cleansing" in the PNP hierarchy.

Osmeña earlier announced that he would no longer give allowance to the newly assigned policemen in the city. The city government has been giving P4,000 monthly allowance to non-commissioned police officers and civilian employees, P6,000 for commissioned officers and P7,000 each for the deputy city directors.

He also hinted the possibility of cutting off the gasoline allowance to the police. The mayor also ordered the recall of government-owned firearms issued to the police.

Although the local government unit plays a vital role in the campaign against illegal drugs, Taliño admitted, they still have to survive and work at their best to meet the six-month target imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte in his crime eradication plan.

"We always partner with the LGUs. Ang support ng LGU sa police ay malaking tulong na. Pero di namin pakikialaman ang decision ni mayor… Kahit winidraw 'yong ibang logistical support sa Cebu City Police Office ay ibibigay pa rin natin ang para sa Cebu City," he told reporters.

But he reiterated the earlier plea of PNP chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa to the mayor not to abandon the police.

Dela Rosa, who was in PRO-7 headquarters for his command visit last week, apologized to Osmeña, believing the mayor was offended by the revamp of police chiefs.

Despite the withdrawal of support, Taliño said he is optimistic that they will succeed in their anti-crime agenda.

He thanked the community for supporting them by sending information about illegal drugs.

He said there are also retired justices who committed to provide free legal assistance to the police especially on the conduct of anti-drugs operations.

Apart from this, he added that the national government is also constantly backing them.

Yesterday, 21 police vehicles arrived from Camp Crame which would be distributed to selected police stations in Cebu.  (FREEMAN)