MIRO TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM OSMEÑA

Mayor to decide if he will provide lawyer or cash aid to Miro who has been identified as suspect in Rupinta murder case.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has assured former City Market Office operations head Winefredo Miro that legal assistance will be extended to him.

It has been nearly two weeks since the Police Regional Intelligence Division lodged murder and attempted murder complaints against Miro after he was identified as the alleged mastermind in the ambush-slay of Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta.

Although he said he was ready to face the cases against him, Miro has been vocal about not being able to afford the legal fees.

Osmeña, though, has yet to decide if the aid will be in the form of cash assistance to cover the legal fees or a lawyer.

He said what matters is that Miro’s rights are protected.

“At least the minimum (assistance) because he is not in the position to protect himself. We will help him to give him equal chance to be heard in court. It’s not to be construed as a sign of guilt on my part, but very clearly, the other side wants to implicate him or me in the murder of Imok,” he said.

The mayor also said that Miro’s resignation from public office had nothing to do with the criminal cases filed against him.

Miro, he said, was not the first to resign from his post due to several problems concerning the vendors.

For now, Miro is being paid by Osmeña in his personal capacity.

“He’s connected to me. I am paying his salary. I said you just stay there muna and then I’ll give him some personal errands to do. I really don’t know what the evidence is,” Osmeña said.

The mayor said he is not closing his doors at City Hall for Miro should the latter decide to return to public office.

“We will consider that, but we’re trying to figure out the basis of the evidences against him. That will take about a month,” he said. /