Cases vs. Tom

Ex-mayor Rama to file libel cases, others after Osmeña’s ‘below-the-belt’ claims

Rama says he did not even win in Duljo, where the slain Jeffrey ‘Jaguar’ Diaz was from, so how could he have been the latter’s protector? Mayor Osmeña says he will invite third party to observe simultaneous lie detector test

FORMER Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will file criminal and civil cases against Mayor Tomas Osmeña for “preposterously accusing him of be- low the belt allegations.”

In a press conference yesterday morning in the Rama Compound, Rama told reporters that Osmeña’s string of allegations, including claims that Rama is a drug addict and protector, have prompted damage and hate against him and his family.

“Tommy, you better prepare. As I’ve said, I’ll file cases against you. My family and Team Rama are all in concurrence for the damage and hate you have prompted against my family and me, personally. The truth will be revealed,” he said.

Other cases

A lawyer, Rama said that this time, the lawsuits he will be filing against Osmeña will not be limited to libel charges as his camp is considering other possibilities.

His son, Atty. Mikel Rama, earlier filed libel charges against Osmeña for allegedly accusing the former mayor of being a drug addict on social and print media.

Rama again denied having any connections with slain alleged top drug personality Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz or any of his affiliates, or that he received drug money in his 20 years in public service.

This came after Osmeña, in his regular news conference last week in his office at the City Hall, said he heard that Jaguar gave Rama P10 million during the latter’s term as mayor.

Rama reportedly asked for P20 million from the alleged drug lord, which strained their “relationship.”

“From what I heard, when he did not receive the P20 million Mike was asking from Jaguar, Mike raided the area. That’s the story I heard because the next day, Jaguar sent someone to offer me money.

That’s why I asked Mike that we take a lie detector test. Did you receive money from Jaguar or not?” Osmeña said.

While the mayor admitted to having been offered money reportedly by one of Jaguar’s men, he clarified that he has never met nor did he know how the alleged drug lord looked like.

He also denied knowing how much was offered, saying he did not bother to ask.

Appalled

Rama, for his part, lamented that the accusation “appalled him a little bit,” calling it below the belt.

“The accusation in that level is highly reprehensible, absurd, incredulous and even highly preposterous. I am not a drug lord protector. I do not know who Jaguar is. He (Tomas) kept on accusing me. This man has no other goal, but to get revenge even at the expense of the people,” he said.

“His attempt to discredit the accomplishment of our administration will not prosper. All he’s been doing is coming up with allegation after allegation without proof. As I’ve said, if you can’t put up, shut up. I’m just curious why he’s making this accusation,” he added.

Challenge

Rama last week chal- lenged Osmeña to sue him after the latter’s continued accusations of him being a drug protector.

He said that if someone was lying, it had to be Osmeña, who not only admitted to the media having been offered money by one of Jaguar’s men, but also won in Barangay DuljoFatima during the 2013 and 2016 mayoral polls.

Jaguar, a resident of the barangay, was reportedly well-loved by the village people for his “Robin Hoodstyle generosity.”

Rama alleged that Jaguar supporting Osmeña is widely known in the barangay.

If a lie detector test would put an end to all the accusations, Rama said he is willing to take one with the mayor.

He, however, pointed out that regardless of a test, Osmeña is the one who’s “blatantly lying.”

Following this pronouncement, Osmeña said in his news conference last week that he will schedule a lie detector test for the two of them to take as soon as possible.

Dare

While he wants the National Bureau of Investigation 7 to administer the test, the mayor said he will request for an observer from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.

Osmeña challenged Rama to undergo a lie detector test to answer for his alleged involvement in narco-politics after he was named as a drug protector three months ago.

The former mayor was among the 159 local officials, judges and police whom President Rodrigo Duterte named as drug protectors during a speech last Aug. 7 in Camp Panacan, Davao City.

After getting no response, the mayor reiterated his dare to Rama for them to take a polygraph test together last October.

It was only two weeks ago, after the former mayor finally agreed that they would both undergo a drug test together, that he did he said yes to a polygraph test as well.

While the two may have taken separate drug tests last Dec. 10, Osmeña said the two of them will be taking a lie detector test together.

Invitation

In a text message to Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, the mayor said he will send the invitation for the observer to witness the polygraph test.

“Good, finally. The observer has an office in Manila. Also, I’m willing to bet Rama my P10,000 versus his P1,000 that the barangay captain implicated by Jaguar’s right hand man belongs to Team Rama. The money will be deposited in Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Games Corp.),” he said.