Rama’s ‘hair’ drug test negative

FORMER Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was found negative for illegal drug use in his second drug test.

Rama also met Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa recently, months after he was tagged by President Duterte as among those who gave protection to drug lords.

In a news conference at his house at the Rama Compound in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City yesterday, Rama showed the official result of the test that used a length of his hair as sample that the personnel of Hi-Precision Diagnostics took last Dec. 10.

On that day, the former mayor underwent another test using his urine as sample, which also showed that he had no trace of illegal substances in his system.

Rama tested negative for seven different illegal drugs, including amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine/metabolites, opiates, extended opiates, phencyclidine, THC metabolite and benzodiazepines.

“I did not take this test to prove to him (Mayor Tomas Osmeña) because I knew and he knew that I am not (a drug addict),” Rama said.

Also last Dec. 10, Osmeña submitted himself to a separate hair fol- licle screen at St. Vincent General Hospital in the afternoon.

When sought for comment on Rama’s result, Osmeña said that the former mayor already had his hair cut three months before he submitted himself to the test.

“Of course, nag patupi man siya (he had his hair cut). That’s only three months diay. Why did he wait six months? It’s gone. I thought it would remain there. But, the signs of residue of (drugs) are only three months. And if you cut the hair, it’s gone. My first challenge to him, he didn’t like. Remember? Maybe he’s not yet ready,” he said.

Rama, for his part, dared Osmeña to show his test results also and undergo a test using urine as sample.

“I still insist the he should have his urine test and maybe include alcohol test,” he said.

However, Osmeña said he already underwent a urine drug test in City Hall, but the result is not yet available.

Now that he is cleared, Rama said they are readying the libel and other administrative complaints against Osmeña for maligning his reputation; by saying that he is into illegal drugs and coddling drug lords.

But the mayor said he is just waiting for Rama’s camp to proceed with the case.

“Why is he taking it so long?” he said.

Last Tuesday, Rama fi- nally met dela Rosa at the PNP chief’s office in Camp Crame, Quezon City in an attempt to clear his name.

Rama was included in the list of drug protectors that the President released last Aug.7.

“Regarding my inclusion in the president’s list, I will never stop as well,” he said, adding that the scheduled meeting has been postponed several times.

Although he did not give further details, Rama said the 20-minute meeting was “cordial.”

“It was a one-on-one closed door encounter between me and the chief PNP. Part of what I have said to him is so much that we talked about, I don’t want to be sharing because it’s not fair. But there is much to be desired. I showed to him some documents,” Rama said.

The former mayor brought with him a copy of a news report to prove that he has been after the suspected top drug lord in Central Visayas, Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz.

In the report, Rama challenged the police, among others to “get Jaguar’s head” after an anti-drug operation at his house last Sept. 20, 2015 in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

Police confiscated P4 million worth of illegal drugs, but Jaguar evaded arrest.

He was killed in an encounter with police last June 17 in Las Piñas, Metro Manila.