DOJ urged to probe Tomas anew
Allegations of Mayor Tomas Osmeña being a drug protector resurfaced with the death of his long time trusted aide, policeman Adonis Dumpit.
Dumpit died during an antidrug operation in Bohol yesterday with authorities confiscating 15 large packs of shabu from his possession.
And while he was no longer Osmeña’s bodyguard when he was killed, it was the mayor who was instrumental in Dumpit’s release from jail in 2016 when Osmeña paid for Dumpit’s bail for the homicide case the latter was appealing before the Court of Appeals.
Yesterday, opposition councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia took the opportunity to ask the Department of Justice to revive its investigation into Osmeña.
“I think DOJ should revive its investigation into the alleged links of Mayor Osmeña to drug personalities considering that his trusted aide was caught in the possession of shabu and was believed to be selling illegal drugs,” Garcia told The FREEMAN.
A few months ago, former DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said a certain Reynaldo “Jumbo” Diaz, reportedly the cousin of slain drug personality Jeffrey Diaz alias Jaguar, issued an affidavit, which said that Osmeña allegedly received drug money amounting to P7 million.
Councilor Joel Garganera, also an opposition councilor, said Osmeña should be the person who knows Dumpit since the mayor “was very proud” to have the police officer as his aide.
“As to NBI's findings that Dumpit is a high level drug pusher and protector, I'll give it to the mayor to answer that question,” Garganera said.
Sought for comment, Osmeña said he doesn't care if the drug protector tag will be revived. He said the opposition will always try to do that.
“But I never got involved with drugs. It's Mike Rama. You ask the president. Even Bato (former Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa) said I'm not involved in drugs, even PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) said I was not involved in drugs,” the mayor told reporters.
“Maybe to the other side that's an evidence that I'm protecting Dumpit. Bahala na sila. But he was a good man to me,” Osmeña said.
“If I were his protector, then he would be operating here, right? How come he's not here? How can I protect him in Bohol?” he pointed out.
He said Dumpit was never linked to the trade while he was in Cebu City.
The mayor said he can only speculate that Dumpit met people while in jail.
“I have heard reports that he's doing some sidelines in Bohol. I didn't ask for details. Basta naa siyay sidelines dinha… I don't take it seriously. Whatever he's doing there. It's all kind of tsismis,” Osmeña said./JMO