CCPO: Vehicle donation has ups and downs

CEBU, Philippines — The local police are seeing both an advantage and disadvantage in the initial plan of the Cebu City government to donate its 47 city-owned vehicles to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and two other government agencies.

CCPO Office Operations Branch Chief Wilbert Parilla told The FREEMAN that as an advantage, the number of vehicles they will receive from City Hall will already be theirs regardless of who is the local chief executive.

He said that if their group would have disagreements with the incumbent mayor, the local chief executive would no longer be able to reclaim these vehicles.

However, on the flipside, they do not have an allotted budget for their maintenance and repair.

He explained that each police-owned vehicle has a budget designated specifically for repair and maintenance the national headquarters in Camp Crame sets aside.

“Duna ni advantage and gamay na disadvantage kay una sa advantage sa CCPO na gyud na, bisan kinsa pa ang mayor, dili na makuha. Pero ang disadvantage wala pa ni budget sa repair and maintenance,” Parilla said.

Parilla, however, is positive that they will find a way to cover for the maintenance and repair of these vehicles.

Earlier, Mayor Tomas Osmeña has asked Councilor Dave Tumulak to process the donation of the 47 city-owned vehicles to the three government agencies that also include the Bureau of Fire and Protection-7 and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-7.

Parilla said they do not see anything political to the plans of the City Hall to donate the vehicles.

He said that despite the issues hounding Osmeña and CCPO Director Royina Garma, the police force is not affected at all.

He also said that the police would continue to work and perform their duties to keep the city safe and secure.

“Para namo dili na siya makaapekto. Padayon gihapon mi sa among mga trabaho kay ang kapulisan mo-serve and protect,” Parilla said. — GAN (FREEMAN)