Natuel’s Appointment Irregular, Says Rama

The copy of the memorandum designating Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel as director of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has finally reached the office of the City mayor.

Mayor Rama made this known to the media during his daily press conference on Wednesday, June 19, that he already read Natuel’s appointment as CCPO director.

“I am not involved. The mayor should be involved. The designation is irregular,” Rama said when asked by the media on his reaction to the memorandum that came from the Police Regional Office-7.

Natuel replaced former CCPO director Melvin Buenafe last December as temporary director, and was officially appointed as the Officer-in-Charge of CCPO on January. Based from the memorandum which Rama just got a copy, Natuel was designated as the full-pledged director of CCPO on May 10 as per general order of PRO-7 director Marcelo Garbo, Jr.

The mayor described Natu-el’s appointment as irregular since he was not involved and made aware of the appointment of the new police chief to the city he runs, which means that the memo bypassed his involvement as the chief executive of the concerned local government unit.

Rama visited Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Allan Purisima in Camp Crame, Manila days after his proclamation to inquire on the matter concerning his preferred chief of police. He said he will be resubmitting his letter requesting Sr. Supt. Noli Romana as his choice to be the CCPO head, together with the copy of the first letter that he gave to Camp Crame on December last year.

The mayor said that he will further study the matter together with the two candidates who are applying for the position of city attorney.

“I will not disclose yet on who these two are. Mahibaw-an ra in due time,” Rama added. (Gessa Gunhuran, PIO Staff)