Ombudsman starts probe on SRP launch spending

CEBU, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has already started its investigation on the complaint filed against former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña for spending more than P1 million to launch the South Road Properties (SRP).

The complainants believe that the formal launching of the SRP was really intended to boost the candidacy of Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BO-PK).

Peter Onde and Rodolfo Pepito of Barangay Carreta, Leonardo Abarquez of Barangay Bulacao and Fletcher Pinatil of Barangay Camputhaw asked Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol to check the so-called SRP launching two days before the elections last May 10.

For them, the activities were meant to pursue BOPK's political campaign.

However, Osmeña, who is now Cebu City South district congressman, said the activity was not laced with political motive but only to promote the SRP.

Cebu City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete said he received communication from Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago directing him to certify whether that SRP launching held last May 8 was really a City Government-related activity.

Poblete said he is preparing an answer to the anti-graft body explaining that he has no knowledge about the questioned activity because he assumed his post only in the middle of July this year.

It was lawyer Alfredo Sipalay, a resident of barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, who filed the complaint on behalf of the four complainants.

The four complainants said they wondered why the launching of the SRP was done only before the elections when it was already completed several years ago.

They want to convince the anti-graft investigators that the so-called launching of SRP, which was funded by the Cebu City Government, was intended solely for the political gains of BOPK candidates.

Some of Osmeña's critics questioned the timing of the SRP launching because the BOPK also held its rally and thanksgiving party in that same place that same night.

Part of the budget that was allocated for the SRP launching was spent for the purchase of 125,800 rockets that were set off during the culmination of the week-long event. The event gave honor to Cebu City after the Guinness Book of World Records declared the fireworks display at the SRP as the best so far in the world. (THE FREEMAN)