Rama to sued kaps: Enjoy victory later

CEBU, Philippines — On the last day of campaigns, former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama came to the defense of his allied barangay captains who have been slapped with administrative and criminal complaints by Mayor Tomas Osmeña before the Ombudsman.

“Keep cool. Don’t get to be emotional. Don’t get affected. Keep focus. Get over it and let’s enjoy the victory after,” Rama said yesterday when asked to give his message to the 58 barangay captains who have been accused of not liquidating millions in aid from the city government.

Rama, whose administration released the disallowed aid in 2015, also expressed confidence that the results of Monday’s elections will favor the opposition Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban, not the ruling Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan.

At present, 65 barangay captains in Cebu City are affiliated with Barug, 15 with the BOPK.

Osmeña, after pressing charges against the 58 village chiefs, admitted spending money to produce and distribute flyers bearing their names.

But this, according to Rama, is black propaganda.

“He is responsible for the distribution of slanderous, black propaganda against 58 Barug barangay captains and they are the incumbent barangay officials,” Rama said. “Never in the years of me being a mayor that barangay elections anticipated with so much black propaganda.”

The political nemesis of Osmeña is also questioning the timing of the filing of cases, which was done during the campaign period.

He said all barangay captains are in the process of liquidating the financial assistance. He urged his barangay captains to explain this to their constituents during their meetings.

Among the captains facing complaints before the Ombudsman are those from Adlaon, Agsungot, Apas, Binaliw, Bonbon, Budlaan, Sudlon I, Tisa, Calamba, Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Kamputhaw, Pasil, Sambag I, Tinago, Zapatera, Lahug, Cambinocot, Guba, Pahina San Nicolas, Suba, Pamutan, Toong, Taptap, Tagbao, Pari-an, Luz, Pulangbato, Punta Princesa, Quiot, San Antonio, San Roque, Sinsin, Sapangdaku, Pitos, Poblacion Pardo, San Jose, San Nicolas Proper, and Sawang Calero.

Other are from Sirao, Sta. Cruz, Cogon Pardo, Duljo Fatima, Kalunasan, Kamagayan, Malubog, Bacayan, Buot, Busay, Carreta, Lorega San Miguel, Lusaran, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sto. Niño, Sudlon II, T. Padilla, and Tabunan.

On another note, Rama has condemned Osmeña’s decision to push through with the distribution of senior citizen’s aid during the election period, saying other candidates used the occasion to campaign.

The former mayor, however, has welcomed the recent development that a Manila-based developer is willing to buy a three-hectare property at the South Road Properties at P115,000 per square meter.

He said the value of SRP lots naturally rises as time goes by. He urged his allies in the City Council to study the unsolicited offer of the private firm.

“It is about time. I am positive and that is good for the city if this will materialize. I support them in pursuing that idea,” Rama said. — Marienel M. Janea, CNU intern/JMD (FREEMAN)