Tomas welcomes probe on drug test result leak

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is willing to submit himself to an investigation over the allegation that he caused the publication of the drug test result of Busay Barangay Captain Amilo Lopez.

Osmeña said he is ready to face scrutiny anytime from the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Lopez asked the Ombudsman to investigate the irregular publication of his drug test result where he was tested positive of illegal drug use.   

"It's up to him, he's entitled to do that...Let them investigate, that's fine with me," he told reporters yesterday.

Osmeña said someone in the camp of Lopez is prodding to file charges against him. He noted the string of charges filed against him before the Office of the President.

The mayor is currently facing at least four complaints related to the Dodge Charger cars allegedly donated by Big Foot to the city government, reopening of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill, designating two acting mayors, and operation of illegal terminal in Barangay Kamagayan.

Lopez denied somebody was behind his complaint before the anti-graft body. In fact, he drafted his own complaint.

City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention chief Alice Utlang also denied Lopez’s accusation that they intentionally leaked the result to the media.

“Yes ni tawag ko niya kay giinform naku siya nga mag pa-biometrics but wa ko na nabi nga positive siya. Siya gani maoy saba kaayo sa iyang office man siguro to ako gani siya giingnan ayaw og saba ana Kap kay ipa confirmatory test pa na. But nag yaw-yaw siya kay ngano lagi daw siya nag positive,” Utlang said.

On the contrary, Utlang said it was Lopez who divulged the result to the public by holding a press conference. Utlang said she will wait for the copy of the complaint from the Ombudsman.

Lopez sought the assistance of the anti-graft body and asked to investigate Osmeña and Utlang for allegedly publicizing his drug test result.

Lopez was found positive for drug use last year during a surprise drug test conducted by COSAP. He said he was shocked to read his name on the newspaper two days after the drug test.

He eventually tested negative in the confirmatory test. (FREEMAN)