Tomas, 2 local execs dined with Duterte

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña was among the local officials invited to a private dinner with President Rodrigo Duterte at the Mactan Airbase Clubhouse during the latter's visit in Cebu last week.

Also present during the dinner were Governor Hilario Davide III and Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel 'Luigi' Quisumbing. The meeting, which lasted an hour before Duterte left for Davao City, was also attended by Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command commander Major General Raul del Rosario, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Osmeña, who later posted pictures in his Facebook page, was seen in a brief huddle alone with the president. The mayor, however, refused to give information what was discussed during the meeting.

It was, however, interesting to note that the meeting happened a day after Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman filed administrative complaint against the mayor and his wife, Margot, over the reopening of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.

Despite the meeting and Duterte's praises to Osmeña during the groundbreaking ceremony of the third bridge between Cebu and Mactan Island, Ayuman is confident that his complaint will be given favorable action.

Ayuman said he believes that the president is reasonable and will rule based on facts and evidence.

"I think fair ang atoang president dili gyud ta angay mahadlok. In fact, ang akoang tan-aw na-bothered siya ron kay akong nakita mas naay chance nga maminaw sa atoa ang presidente labi na sa gagmay'ng tingog," Ayuman told The FREEMAN.

Ayuman said he is confident that the president will grant his request for preventive suspension against the first couple of Cebu City.

"Confident gihapon uy, mas mo tan-aw siya sa mga evidences not on kinsa maoy maka una og estorya niya, mas maminaw na siya sama nako nga barangay captain nga gamay og tingong. He (Osmeña) is trying hard nga suod sa president bisan kahibalo nata sa iya duwa," Ayuman added.

Duterte praised Osmeña and Secretary Adelino Sitoy during his speech in Cordova.

"You know, kami ni Tommy Osmeña, kaming Sitoy. Do not minimize our role in society ... media tends to view as responsible only for law and order ... (We) worry about traffic, garbage, teachers, students, the general welfare of the people," Duterte said.

Duterte said that as mayors, they build cities. Sitoy is former mayor of Cordova.

"I built a city. Now I will build a country. Yan ang trabaho namin," Duterte said.

Ayuman filed administrative complaints against the Osmeñas for reopening the landfill despite notices of violations issued by the Department of Health. The health department earlier cited at least 13 environmental violations of the landfill which was already ordered closed by the Court of Appeals.

The complaints include grave misconduct, abuse of authority, culpable violation of the Constitution and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Ayuman is asking to place Osmeña and his wife under preventive suspension. —/FPL (FREEMAN)