Retired General Turned Cebu Town Mayor Loses Control Over Police

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has revoked the supervisory powers of Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot over his town’s police force.

Lawyer Risty Sibay, Napolcom 7 spokesman, said the revocation followed President Rodrigo Duterte’s public announcement of Loot, a retired general, being named a drug protector in intelligence reports. Loot has denied the accusation.

Earlier, the Napolcom stripped Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña of the same powers following Osmeña’s pullout of logistical support for the police.

The Napolcom resolution of revocation was served Thursday noon at the mayor’s office in Daanbantayan, some 120 kilometers north of Cebu City.

The revocation order on Osmeña was served on August 10 on Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella since Osmeña is in the United States for his annual medical check-up.

Sibay encouraged the mayors to assist the police in sustaining the anti-drugs campaign of the president.

Along with the revocation of the deputation, Napolcom pulled out the police escorts of Loot and Osmeña.

Sibay said he has given Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Police Regional Office 7 Director Noli Taliño copies of the Napolcom resolution.

The resolution was signed by Napolcom chairman and Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, Napolcom vice chairman Rogelio Casurao, Commissioners Felizardo Serapio Jr., Job Mangente, Zenaida Brosas, and Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa. (PNA)
JMC/EB/EDS