Even as rama tests negative: ‘Drug issue’ remains - Tomas

CEBU, Philippines - Even after his political archnemesis Michael Rama tested negative for drugs following a urine test yesterday, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the fact remains that Rama is facing allegations of drug links and narcopolitics.

Osmeña and Rama both took drug tests in different locations yesterday after Rama challenged they both submit themselves to testing.

"But, the issue remains that he (Rama) is a drug lord protector as mentioned by the president," he said.

Rama challenged the mayor to a drug test yesterday at 9 a.m. at Hi-Precision Diagnostics, and then waited for Osmeña in Plaza Independencia until 9:45 a.m. before going to the testing center for a urine test and a hair follicle test.

Osmeña, who took his test in a private hospital, said he had many things to do yesterday which was why his available time could not accommodate Rama's schedule.

"Showbiz ra man na si Rama oy. I have things to do. I'm a busy man. Rama has nothing to do. So he should be the one who will adjust, not me. He has nothing to do," the mayor said.

Rama said his drug test does not depend on the attendance of the mayor. He said the objective of his drug test is "encompassing" to all accusations against him, like being a drug user and a drug protector.

"The real person that the City of Cebu many have been expecting, not me, it's been alleging it's him being referred to as the drug protector," Rama alleged.

Fifteen minutes after the urine sample was submitted, medical personnel then handed to Rama the negative result of the test. The result was presented to the media.

"With this, I hope the issue on drug addiction will come to an end. I am not a drug addict. I can never be a drug addict… It can never be positive. It's only their head that is coming out positive to destroy me," Rama said.

After the first test, medical personnel of Hi-Precision Diagnostics took a sample of Rama's hair for the second drug test. The result of this test will be known in two weeks yet.

When asked why he submitted to a drug test only now, Rama said he already took a drug test before and tested negative.

Rama said he is concerned about the Team Rama-allied barangay captains, whom Osmeña has allegedly been running after, especially on drug issues.

"He has been running after my barangay captains. I just want to end this here, clearing everything," Rama said.

Rama added he feels bad for his barangay captains like those in Pasil, Duljo-Fatima, Sawang Calero, and Ermita who have been tagged as narco-politicians by Osmeña.

Meanwhile, Osmeña submitted himself to a hair follicle drug test only. He said it was not for Rama but he "owes it to the people."

Osmeña asked Augusto Go, owner of the St. Vincent General Hospital, to supervise the test.

"Because Augusto Go has a very credible reputation. If I go to a relative or something like that or an appointee of Tommy Osmeña, people will question that. And you know, I cannot afford to bribe Augusto Go," Osmeña said laughing.

Osmeña said he is willing to pay for the expenses to send his hair sample to a competent laboratory in the city, Hong Kong, or anywhere that the results cannot be tampered. He said tampering or altering of the result may be possible, knowing his arch nemesis.

"It's up to him (Go) who to give it to. He's the caretaker. I don't think this hospital had the ability to really analyze. I think there's only few," he said.

Osmeña added Rama should answer the allegations tagging him as a drug protector.

"I know that he has connections. That's why I still challenged him to a lie-detector test. Sometimes you don't need a lie-detector test, you just look at his language, his body language," Osmeña said.

Osmeña said Rama should be asked if he knew the alleged drug personality Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz and if he accepted money from Jaguar.

Osmeña also questioned the move of Team Rama-dominated City Council in cutting the proposed P50 million for anti-drug campaign down to P5 million only.

"These are bad signs. You can't just ignore these things. Why you cut it down? You know what I honestly think? They want the drug lords to protect him in the next elections. It's going to be like that," the mayor said.

Rama has accepted the challenge. (FREEMAN)