Duterte blasts Tomas
President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday took a swipe at Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña for supposedly playing untouchable and telling the national government to “leave Cebu alone.”
The president was the guest of honor at the launch of the National Housing Authority's low-rise housing project in time for Mandaue City's celebration of its 49th Charter Day anniversary.
Addressing a crowd of about 3,000 inside the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex, Duterte first hesitated to say the other purpose of his Cebu visit.
“Nianhi ko kay tungod sa Cebu ug naa koy istoryahon unta nga opisyal kay ingnan nako siya kung magkita mi, tamparuson nako siya. Kanang hinambog gani nga dugay na sa politika nga ‘ayaw mi hilabti kay Cebu ni.' Di guyora ning Cebu ngadto sa Pacific, hawa diri,” he said.
Shortly after, he dropped the name.
“Hoy Tomas! Dili na ni panahon sa Katsila ha, kanang style nimo nga mura ka'g si kinsa, taas kaayo ka manulti. Ingon pa ka nga ako protector ng shabu. Ingnan tika magkita ta, anak ka ng p*ta ayaw pagtuong kinsa (ka). Dili gani ta magkasinabot sa atong istorya tamparuson taka sa daghang tawo. Ayaw ko binuangi ana kay dili ko Cebuano nga imong daug-daugon,” the president continued.
The FREEMAN tried to reach Osmeña for comment but received no response from his end as of press time last night. But in a post to his official Facebook page, the mayor said the president is entitled to say whatever he wants.
“As a lawyer, I am sure that he knows there are two sides to any story, and not just what (Office of the Presidential Assistant to the Visayas chief Michael Lloyd) Dino and PRO-7 are telling him,” read his statement, which was posted at 8:12 p.m. yesterday.
The mayor further said the first step in solving a problem is to admit there is a problem, and that if the police refuse to admit there is a problem because “Cebu is still safe,” then Osmeña said they are only making it worse.
“If I have to be the bad guy for mentioning that there is a problem, so be it. No problem,” the post read.
Duterte's remarks about the mayor came on the heels of Osmeña's verbal tussle with the local police officials that started when he accused the authorities of plotting to kill his ally, Tejero councilman Jessielou Cadungog.
In earlier interviews, Osmeña had said that the killings in Cebu suspiciously became common when Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas and Cebu City Police Office Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma were assigned to their current posts.
His prior Facebook posts had also hinted that the police could be behind the high-profile killings in Cebu, including those of two agents of the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency-7.
He also said he can manage the peace and order situation in Cebu.
According to his statement last night, Cebu City's police was awarded by Camp Crame as the best performing anti-drug unit in the entire Philippines two months ago. But with the change in leadership, killings have flourished, he said.
“Regardless, I will continue to do my job. I was elected by the Cebuanos, and it is them I am obligated to. I will continue to act in the interest of my people, especially those who have no one else to stand up for them,” Osmeña's post further read.
Duterte, whose flagship platform on the campaign against illegal drugs has already claimed the lives of about 4,000 people, called out Osmeña in his speech.
“Kung manulti murag si kinsa. ‘Ayaw hilabti ang Cebu kay kaya namo ni.' Who are you to say that? As if you own the Cebu, by what right? Just because you were the former president's son or grandson? And you think kung manulti ka mura kag si kinsa. P*tang ina, tamparuson gyud tika,” Duterte said.
The president also slammed Osmeña for what he described as his “hubris” or thinking that he is always right.
“Kahibalo ka unsay sakit nimo Tom? Prangkahan tika daan karon – hubris. Proud ba. Kana ganing tawo nga di masayop, tan-aw nga di siya masayop. Not capable of being wrong, he is always the right… Cebu City is not your property. It has never been your territory. You are there because you have a name,” he said.
HOUSING PROJECT
Duterte was in Mandaue City last night to lead the launch of a low-rise housing project that will be erected in Barangay Looc.
The project's first phase, which sits on a 4,000-square meter property, is envisioned to benefit an initial 180 families who are considered informal settlers.
NHA general manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said the project, which is part of the administration's “Biyaya ng Pagbabago” initiative, will see eligible beneficiaries paying very cheap amounts monthly ranging from P600 to P1,000 only.
Escalada said the units may be delivered by mid2020.
Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, in his welcome remarks, expressed his gratitude to the president for gracing the occasion.
Quisumbing also assured Duterte that the city is committed to his administration's campaign against drugs and all forms of criminality.
SARA’S CALL
While waiting for Duterte's arrival earlier in the afternoon, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told the crowd that she was not running for senator, contrary to rumors and despite calls for her to do so.
However, she solicited support from Mandauehanons for 2019 senatorial candidates – former senator Jinggoy Estrada, Davao City First District Representative Karlo Nograles, and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.
Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said the Congress will investigate the National Food Authority starting Monday over the recent rice crisis in the country.
He assured that the lawmakers, including President Duterte, are looking for ways to bring down the price of rice.
“Naa mi nadiskubrehan nga nisaka ang presyo sa bugas. Kini kay wala gihimo sa NFA ang ilang trabaho nga mopalit sila og bugas para duna tay buffer fund,” Nograles said, adding that billions of pesos is allocated every year for NFA to purchase rice to supposedly ensure enough stock. —/
JMD