Order from Malacañang: Tomas told to answer complaints

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the President has directed Mayor Tomas Osmeña to answer the four administrative cases filed against him last year.

The complainant, Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., accused Osmeña of allegedly enticing policemen with cash rewards to kill people involved in illegal drugs; designating councilors allied with him as deputy mayors; designating his wife, Councilor Margot Osmeña, as deputy mayor, which is considered nepotism; and ordering that the flag ceremony at City Hall be held only once a month when it should be held daily.

Alcover filed the cases last August 24, 2016.

“Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña is hereby directed to submit, within 15 days from receipt hereof, his verified answer (not a motion to dismiss) to the attached affidavit-complaint with prayer for the issuance of a preventive suspension order…,” reads the order issued by Ryan Alvin Acosta, acting deputy executive secretary for legal affairs of Office of the President.

Acosta issued the order last March 9, which Osmeña received last March 28.

Osmeña said he will answer all the cases, which he considers “harassment.”

He accused Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino as being behind the charges.

“Maybe they are relying on Michael Dino,” Osmeña said, citing the admission of Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta that Dino reportedly called him and asked who he wants to act as barangay captain while he serves his suspension.

“That’s why I filed a case against Dino but he’s not worried about this because maybe the president will forgive him even though he is protecting a drug protector,” the mayor alleged.

As of today, Osmeña is facing eight administrative cases – including those filed by Alcover – all of which seeking his suspension from office.

The four other cases involve the alleged illegal operation of vans-for-hire in Barangay Kamagayan; alleged illegal appointment of two acting mayors when Osmeña went on a vacation leave; alleged illegal re-opening of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Inayawan; and ownership of two Dodge Charger vehicles that Bigfoot Global Solution donated to the city government.

Complainants of all eight cases are allies of Team Rama, the group of former mayor Michael Rama.

In fact, Osmeña believes the cases are a game plan so Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella can take his place as mayor if he gets suspended.

“Sige, anything nalang. File nalang. Basig something will push through,” he said.

Proponents

Councilor Joey Daluz of Team Rama told The Freeman:

“Of course, the complainants are members of the team. Labella is just a logical consequence if the mayor becomes incapacitated to perform his duties. Yes, we ask help from Mr. Dino to see to it that fair play is observed.”

Alcover explained, however, that he did not know Dino at the time he filed the cases.

“I have not met Dino and I don’t know him. If ever dunay influence si Dino sa Malacañang, that’s politics. Ila nang problem duha,” he said.

Councilor James Anthony Cuenco who filed the complaint together with Alcover also said:

“Vice Mayor Labella’s assumption as acting mayor upon the mayor’s suspension is only incidental. The bigger issue is TRO’s (Osmeña) grave abuse of his position.”

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said she is not privy to the other cases but admitted it was Team Rama that initiated the case questioning the alleged illegal operation of the V-hire terminal in Barangay Kamagayan.

No Politics

Sought for comment, Dino said, “I have so many things on my plate. Flood mitigation, LRT, subway, socialized housing but politics is not one of them.”

“What I can say is we badly need a leader who is not consumed by politics. We don't need a leader whose decision is always based on the next elections. We need someone who has a real heart for the poor, not one who uses social media to project being pro-poor. Kanang parehas jud ni President Duterte - authentic ug tinud-anay nga malasakit,” he said. — /JMO (FREEMAN)