Dino behind cases against Osmeña?

CEBU, Philippines — Is Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino pulling the string behind the barrage of administrative cases against Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña?

Osmeña believes Dino was behind former National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Florencio Villarin in filing administrative charges against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Osmeña said his nemesis is doing everything to get him suspended.

“I suspect it’s another ploy to get me suspended and using the influence of Dino, they are filing cases against me,” he told reporters yesterday.

Dino refused to comment on the allegations of Osmeña. His assistant secretary, Jonjie Gonzales, said they will not dignify Osmeña’s accusations with an answer.

Villarin filed administra-tive complaints against Osmeña and nine councilors before the anti-graft office over the alleged anomalous appointments of deputy mayors.

Villarin alleged that the mayor and his deputies committed dishonesty, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and culpable violation of the Constitution as well as Section 60 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

Villarin said that the appointment of deputy mayors also violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. He is seeking that a preventive suspension be imposed on Osmeña and the other respondents.

Aside from Osmeña, also named respondents are Councilors Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Joy Augustus Young, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Margarita Osmeña, Mary Ann Delos Santos, David Tumulak, Jerry Guardo, and Nendell Hanz Abella, who is now commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission.

“You know, I think what he’s doing is to ask Dino, sige get Tommy suspended because of this, nangita og sala ba, nangita og technicality. I can smell it, I can smell it, all of these things,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said he can see the hands of Dino in all the cases filed against him, including that filed by Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman and Councilor Joel Garganera.

The mayor is facing at least eight cases already before the Office of the President. All of these cases are seeking for his suspension.

The charges include the alleged illegal operation of vans-for-hire terminal  in Barangay Kamagayan; designation of two acting mayors; alleged illegal reopening of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill; and personal use of two Dodge Charger vehicles allegedly donated by Bigfoot Global Solution to the city government.

Osmeña is also accused of inciting killings by offering cash rewards to policemen who can kill suspected drug peddlers. The most recent complaint is that of Villarin’s.

The mayor said his critics are just trying to destroy his administration. He cited the opposition of Dino to Bus Rapid Transit. Dino earlier admitted that he wants the BRT project to be cancelled for lack of proper study.

Osmeña said he does not also believe Villarin was doing it to help the anti-corruption campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The mayor said there was no corruption involved in designating some councilors as deputy mayors.

“If I make somebody a team leader in a task force, is that a corruption? There’s something wrong with his values,” Osmeña said.

He explained that the appointment on deputy mayors is just a utilization of the expertise of the city officials.

“These councilors were there in the barangays, they know the problem, they talk to the people and some of them are familiar of the issues.  Why can’t I utilize their talents? If I utilize their talents, it’s already illegal? I will explain this to the people, deputy mayor is not a functional position, it’s an assignment of responsibility and it gives a person some level of recognition,” Osmeña added.

Osmeña is confident that he will be cleared of the charges. (FREEMAN)