Garma backs relief plan for all Cebu City cops

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Royina Garma is in favor of relieving all city policemen in preparation for the midterm elections next year to stop what she described as “padrino system.”

Garma supported the idea of Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, who admitted during an interview with The Freeman Conversations Tuesday that he is toying with the idea of replacing the entire city police force.

“I will support my RD, maganda kung papalitan halos lahat. Kung ako ang tatanungin because kung may mga bagong police, bagong ideas, bagong strategies walang familiarization yung mga drug pushers, walang mga kamag-anak dun sa area. So mas effective and efficient,” Garma said.

Garma pointed out that it is imbibed in the Filipino culture to give favor to friends and relatives.

“Kahit saan, blood is thicker than water, anticipated sa Filipino culture yan, dapat nga mag-isip tayo ng mga paraan para ma-correct especially during elections,” she said.

Sinas earlier said he will relieve all the 1,193 policemen in the city if he finds them no longer effective in the campaign against illegal drugs. He cited as an example the relief of all policemen in Talisay City and how it was very effective in the campaign against illegal drugs in Barangay Tangke. — FPL (FREEMAN)