EDITORIAL - Symbiotic relationship

No less than Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said he wants a close relationship with the Cebu City government now that a new leadership in City Hall is taking over soon.

Sinas admitted that he was happy that Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella won against Mayor Tomas Osmeña in the last elections. For him, this development will usher in the start of a harmonious relationship with the city government and the police force.

“We hope na dili na antagonistic kay previously ang nakita lang nila is dautan ang pulis,” Sinas said, referring to the police’s unhealthy relationship with Osmeña, who accused them of harassing his political supporters in the mountain barangays.

Osmeña’s conflict with the police became serious when Police Colonel Royina Garma was appointed to head the Cebu City Police Office, a development that made the mayor virtually powerless over the CCPO.

With the change in City Hall leadership, the police expect a renewed healthy relationship with the city. It’s undeniable that the local government and the police force need each other if we want to a more solid peace and order campaign.

However, it’s very awkward if the police leadership will make the first move toward reconciliation. Doing so will only lead the public to believe that the police were indeed supporting Labella’s candidacy as alleged by his political opponents.

It would be appropriate if Labella would make the first move. Extending his hand to the police in a bid to normalize ties will not lessen the city government’s dignity. Lest we forget, it was the city leadership that started the conflict with the police. Therefore, it’s only proper for it to make reconciliatory moves.

The city cannot succeed in its peace and order programs without the physical support of the law enforcement agency. Considering the lack of equipment, the police cannot also properly function in their campaign against criminality without the logistical backing from the local government.

So, there is really a need for the two units to embrace the spirit of symbiotic relationship.