Tomas sued over distribution of free medicines in city

FOR allegedly allowing untrained individuals to join in the Cebu City Government’s distribution of free medicines, Mayor Tomas Osmeña was charged with criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Apas Barangay Councilor Ramil Ayuman lodged complaints against Osmeña for alleged gross neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming of a public official and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

He also asked the anti-graft body to place Osmeña under preventive suspension while it is conducting the investigation.

The Ombudsman had ordered Osmeña to answer the complaints, which were described by City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez as harassment suits.

Ayuman is running for a seat in the City Council in the May 13 midterm elections under the opposition’s party Barug PDP-Laban.

In his eight-page complaint, Ayuman said Osmeña announced that he would let the out-ofschool youth implement the program, which caused a stir in some sectors in the community as the administration and dispensation of prescription drugs require training and accreditation of the implementors.

Osmeña issued Executive Order No. 004, also known as the Executive Order Expanding the Long Life Medical Assistance Program, on Aug. 8, 2016. It tasked the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) to implement the program.

Ayuman said the lives of some Cebu City residents would be put into danger if they receive medicines from incompetent distributors.

He further said Osmeña wasted public funds as the latter did not use the trained barangay health workers in the program.