According to Osmeña: Mike, Joy protecting drug syndicates

CEBU, Philippines - The proliferation of illegal drugs in  many Cebu City barangays allied with Team Rama is enough proof that some members of the party led by former mayor Michael Rama are protecting drug syndicates, according to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Osmeña also pointed out how Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, a member of Team Rama, slashed the budget for his anti-drug program.

“The budget proposal was P50 million. Like her ex-boyfriend, it seems like she’s not interested in addressing the drug problem. You don’t have to go very far. What has she done to address the drug problem? Any of them,” Osmeña told reporters.

The mayor first accused Pesquera in his Facebook post Saturday of protecting drug syndicates.

Pesquera, chairperson of the City Council committee on budget and finance, however, fired back at the mayor. She said Osmeña was a friend of slain drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz.

In fact, Pesquera said Osmeña was seen visiting the house of Diaz before.

 “Again, Tomas Osmeña is the true drug protector in the Province of Cebu. And it is his policemen who are not being investigated for having received payola from the drug syndicates,” Pesquera said in a text message to THE FREEMAN.

She said the slashing of the budget for the anti-drug program was a collective act of the City Council where Osmeña’s wife, Margot, is a member.

Pesquera said Margot did not object to the slashing of the budget when it was deliberated by them.

“Does it mean that his wife is also a drug protector, following his own definition?” Pesquera said.

Sought for comment, Margot said “it is not worth commenting on.”

Pesquera believes that Osmeña is just “looking for a scapegoat for all his failures in curbing the drug problem in the city.”

She said Osmeña has been the mayor of the city for almost 16 years and the drug problem is still there.

But Osmeña said several drug lords “have prospered” during the administration of Rama, who was named drug protector by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Osmeña claimed to have helped neutralized nine out of 10 most wanted drug lords, including Jaguar, within his first 30 days as mayor.

According to the mayor, the most problematic barangays in terms of drugs are allied with Team Rama. He mentioned Barangays Lorega-San Miguel, Ermita, Duljo Fatima, Calamba, Pasil, Sawang Calero, and Inayawan.

Meanwhile, Osmeña reiterated his challenge to Rama to undergo a lie detector test and answer the two questions: Did you get money from Jaguar? Did you ask money from Jaguar?

“Because he keeps claiming that he’s drug free. So, this is an indication. These people are wondering how come there are so much drugs in his administration. But, it’s not really necessary. But, in public interest, I think it’s desirable,” Osmeña said.

He said he will ask the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States to conduct or observe the lie detector test, saying that the drug enforcement agency is not under the influence of any political leader and they are very strong against drugs.

Rama accepted the challenge. The former mayor also asked Osmeña to show his drug test result.

“I already answered yes before, however, again where is his urine test and follicle test,” Rama said.

Osmeña said he will follow up the results of his follicle test with lawyer Augusto Go, owner of the University of Cebu Medical Center, where the mayor took the drug test few months ago. (FREEMAN)