Malacañang yesterday frowned the plan of incoming Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to offer bounties to policemen who will kill criminals in the line of duty.
Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said government officials, whether appointed or elected, have the duty to abide by the law.
“Hindi ko ganap na nauunawaan ang panukalang yan ni incoming mayor Tommy Osmeña,” Coloma said.
He said it is the duty of government officials to abide by the law.
“Lahat naman ng kilos ng isang mayor o local government executive, gaya ng pagkilos ng lahat ng mga halal na opisyal at lahat ng appointed officials ng ating bansa, tayo ay sumusunod sa batas,” Coloma said.
“Dapat iyang mga panukalang iyan naayon sa batas at wala na sigurong gagawa ng aksyon na hayagang labag sa batas,” he said.
Coloma noted that the Constitution states that the Philippines is a republican and democratic state. “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them,” Coloma noted.
“Siguro po mismo ang mga mamamayan ang magsasabi na o magpapaalala na kinakailangan talaga sundin natin ang batas sa lahat ng ipapatupad sa pambansa man o sa lokal na pamahalaan,” he said.
Osmeña said he would pay his policemen R50,000 for each criminal they kill and P5,000 for each one they wound.