Rama eyes libel raps vs people calling him a drug addict

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is eyeing libel charges against people who are accusing him of being a drug addict.

"Who made it possible? That is why I'm asking the lawyers. Please check who are these people accusing me. Because yesterday, I was elected in the few hours, I will no longer be elected. Then, I will look for them who accused me of being an addict. Jade Ponce, lawyers, kinsa katong mga supporter nako nga nakadungog, og willing mo-execute I will file a case of libel against all of them," he said.

Rama said his family was hurt over the accusations and asked him why he did not take any legal action against the people who started the allegations.

 "There are lawyers around – my son, he is also wounded about it, and then he should be defending me," Rama said.

Further, Councilor Joy Pesquera said that a number of them have convinced Rama to file charges against those accusing him of being a drug addict, particularly those in social media. 

"We already took screenshots of all the messages nga naa sa Facebook and amoa nanang gipang-keep tanan and we already identified those katong naggamit og  mga pseudonyms mga fake accounts, amo nanang gipang-identify, dali raman nang ma-identify mga fake accounts, kana siya amo na gyud nang gipang andaman," she said.

Pesquera said they will only reveal the names when the cases will be filed.

She added that it is only appropriate to file libel charges against the individuals concerned so that it could not further destroy the image of Rama.

"Ipursugi gyud ang pag-file og libel case kay kung dili gud ni filan ang tendency sige ni sila og pagpanaot and wa ta kibaw og unsa ang end sa ilang pagpanaot nga to the extent di na hinoon ang dungog ang ilang patyon basi hasta nya ang taw," Pesquera said. Under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, elements of libel are imputation of discreditable act or condition to another, publication of imputation, identity to the person defamed and existence of malice.

Meanwhile, Duljo Fatima barangay captain Elmer Abella is wondering why he and Rama are being accused of being protectors of slain drug personality Jeffery Otom Diaz alias Jaguar.

 "Nahibong gani mig dako nga kami gipasanginlan ni Mayor Mike nga kami nahimong protector ni Jaguar Diaz nga sa tinooray lang nga kada election si "Jaguar" mogasto gyud na para ni Osmeña, magpalista sa mga taw aron sa pagsuporta ni (Tomas) Osmeña, kung kami pa ang protector ni Rama siguro dia na molaban namo, dia na nisuporta namo sa Team Rama," Abella said.

On the other hand, he said only Osmeña can say if he was connected with Jaguar. "Di ko makasulti nga di ko motuo nga wala siya kadawat ug nakadawat, siya ra ang nahibaw ana," he said.

Abella also stressed that he asked Jaguar to stop his illegal drug operations.

"Usa ko sa nihango ni "Jaguar" nga undang na aning negosyoha kay akong barangay permanenting kulatahon sa media ba nga ang Duljo involve gyud kaayo sa drugas," he added.   (FREEMAN)