Mayor may sue Tomas over ‘drama’ remark

Mayor may sue Tomas over ‘drama’ remark

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama wants to file a libel case against Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) for the congressman’s “irresponsible pronouncements” against him.

The mayor criticized Osmeña for his statement that Rama was only “staging a drama” in helping the 168 families of Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas whose houses were about to be evicted this week.

Osmeña had said that Rama was only politicking, adding that the mayor knows that he is bound to lose in the 2013 national and local elections.

“As a public official, you have to be more circumspect in your

pronouncements. It was an irresponsible statement,” Rama said.

Rama also defended himself against Osmeña’s statement that he did not consult the affected residents on his letter to the court, where he asked for a six-month extension for the families occupying the lot to vacate the property.

The lot in question is a 4.6-hectare property that, according to another court order, belongs to Mariano Godinez.

Rama said it was the residents themselves who asked for the six months extension. He said they wrote him a letter, on which he based his request for an extension.

“It was again another irresponsible statement. Pataka lang siya ug sulti na sad. He is making a statement without even checking. A responsible official should not make a statement without any basis, no evidence, no documents. I was asked to intervene by the residents,” he said.

Rama then showed reporters yesterday a copy of the residents’ letter to him.

In the letter, the residents agreed to vacate the property they are currently living in. Because of economic difficulties, however, they want Rama to help them convince the court to give them six months so they can find a relocation site.

Upon learning of the mayor’s pronouncement, Osmeña challenged Rama to continue filing libel charges against him.

“I hope Rama is not bluffing. Let the people decide who is misleading them,” he added.

According to Rama, he has already requested his lawyers to see if there are enough grounds for him to file a libel case against the congressman.

Up until last year, the two had been political allies for at least six consecutive terms.