President’s office orders Tomas to answer complaint
The Office of the President has directed Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to answer the administrative charges filed against him by Joey Alfar and Roger Cimafranca for allegedly withdrawing his support to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In an order dated February 8, 2018, Ryan Alvin Acosta, Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, gives the mayor 15 days to answer the complaints.
The order further stipulates that they want a verified answer from Osmeña on the accusation thrown by the complainants. Therefore, the mayor is prohibited from filing motion to dismiss.
To recall, on September 6, 2016, Alfar and Cimafranca accused the mayor of grave misconduct, abuse of authority, and violation of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The complaint stemmed from Osmeña’s July 14 pronouncement that he will stop his support on the antiillegal drug campaign leaving it to the hands of the newlyappointed police officials in the city.
This was he was upset when his trusted men, former Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director Patrocinio Comendador and Cebu City Police Office director Benjamin Santos were relieved through an order from Camp Crame.
Osmeña announced that he will not give allowance to the new city policemen and he will also stop giving reward money of P50, 000 to policemen who can kill a drug personality.
In a press conference yesterday, Osmeña pointed out that the complainants wanted to drag him down so that Barug Team Rama affiliated Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella will take over his position.
Personalities affiliated with Barug Team Rama have filed complaints against the mayor before the Office of the President.
Anecito Canturias, regional head of the United Nationalist Alliance and former chief of the Cebu City Investment Promotions Center during the time of Rama, filed the first complaint in August 2016 in connection with Osmeña’s appointment of two acting mayors when he went on a vacation leave.
In February last year, Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman lodged an administrative complaint against the mayor and his wife, Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, over the reopening of the Inayawan sanitary landfill.
Ayuman followed it up with another case, accusing Osmeña of owning two units of Dodge Charger vehicles donated by Bigfoot Global Solution to the city government.
In March last year, City Councilors James Anthony Cuenco and Pastor Alcover Jr. also asked President Rodrigo Duterte’s office to suspend Osmeña for allowing the operation of a V-hire terminal in Barangay Kamagayan that reportedly violates an existing city ordinance.
However, the mayor prefers not to give further comment on the matter saying he will let his legal counsel answer the complaint.
“My lawyers will answer that but let me point out, why the police are not complaining? Ang mga reklamador ang mga taga Talisay,” Osmeña said.
In a separate interview, City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez told The FREEMAN that they already received the order and will answer it in due time.
“We are confident because it is the judgment call of the mayor if the police deserve his support. Besides, the allowance given to the police is from the funds of the Cebu City Government. In my opinion, it can be stopped,” he added.
The FREEMAN tried to get side of Cimafranca and Alfar on the development but they were not available as of press time.