Police: Complainant vs. Miguel not cooperating

CEBU, Philippines - The complainant against Miguel Osmeña, son of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, and her family are not cooperating with the investigation, according to the police.

Samantha Elise Diores Benitez alleged that she was threatened by the mayor’s son, who is the boyfriend of her best friend.  Benitez claimed that Miguel got angry at her for failing to stop her friend from drinking too much alcohol at a bar near their school.

Mabolo Police Station Chief Claudio Casiban, who was directed by Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador to lead the investigation, said that the family is not interested to cooperate in the investigation.

Casiban said they already sent a formal letter to the Benitez requesting them to turn over the digital camera that was allegedly shot so the police can do a forensics examination.

The police official said that they sent the letter last Friday yet, but haven’t received any reply yet.

Benitez alleged that the 24-year-old Miguel might have been the one who destroyed her camera as he promised to return the item to her since it was left inside his girlfriend’s bag after they split ways at the bar.

She also suspects that the threat that she got via a text message must have come from the mayor’s son even if it came from a number that is not listed in her address book.

Benitez said that she got Miguel’s ire for leaving behind Ana Gabriela Beatriz Villegas at a bar last September 11.

Villegas reportedly got very drunk and was fetched by Miguel. Later that night, she was rushed to the hospital due to constant vomiting.

Casiban told The FREEMAN that he ordered one of his men to send the said letter to the family last Friday at their residence in Paradise Village.

He said that lawyer Sandra Diores-Smits, mother of Benitez, received the letter.

   She however reportedly expressed her disinterest in cooperating in the investigation, saying that she is already okay with the assurance of the mayor that he won’t allow Miguel to harm her 20-year-old daughter.

“Dili lang usa kuno sila interesado sa imbestigasyon. Okay na daw sila sa assurance ni Mayor,” Casiban said.

Casiban said that the letter sent to Benitez’s family was to inform them of the investigation and requested for the turn over of the camera and the cellular phone that contained threatening messages allegedly from Miguel so the police can go on with the investigation. — Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)