Ombuds to probe Osmeña

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayas Ombudsman will conduct a fact-finding investigation on reports that Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña received two vehicles from a businessman during his term as Cebu City mayor.

Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol said his office will determine if Osmeña violated provisions in Republic Act 6713 otherwise known as Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The law states that public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.

 “Last Monday our office received a complaint through email but the said group told the office that a formal complaint will follow,” Apostol said.

Apostol also said they are careful to avoid being used in cases that are purely political harassments considering that elections are near.

He said 80 percent of the complaints that his office receives are considered harassment.

Apostol clarified that his office can only look into the criminal aspect of the issue as the Ombudsman cannot investigate administrative liability of the members of Congress as provided for in Republic Act 6770, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

Earlier, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama challenged the Visayas Ombudsman to look into the matter after it was reported in the media that the two Dodge Charger vehicles supposedly donated by Bigfoot Properties Inc. owner and chairman Michael Gleissner were seen parked in the residence of Tomas.

His wife, Councilor Margot Osmeña, earlier said the vehicles were donated to Tomas and not to the city.

But a day after, Tomas said her sister Minnie paid for the two vehicles. One of these has been repainted but the other one has an overhead siren, bears the seal of the Cebu City Government and is marked Cebu City Police.

Tomas had said he sees nothing wrong with this and even challenged his critics to sue him.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the Department of the Interior and the Local Government (DILG) should also conduct its own probe. Otherwise, he will raise the matter to President Aquino.

Rama said that while DILG insists that it is not under its jurisdiction as it involves a congressman, “the matter is a local concern.”

“They know better what to do. Maghuwat sila nga ako’y mokiha? Klaroha lang nga hadlok sila,” he said.

Rama said that if these agencies easily noticed the vanity plate “Mayor” on his service vehicle, it should also be as vigilant to other public officials.

For his part, Osmeña said that there was “no donation” as alleged.

“Bigfoot decided not to donate it. A donation to the city requires a (1) deed of donation and (2) a resolution from the city council authorizing the mayor to sign the deed. Neither ever existed. How do I prove it never existed? Shouldn’t Rama provide the evidence of an anomaly or should I be proclaimed guilty first and they will look for the violation later?” Tomas said in a text message.

He also added that during his term as city mayor he was able to secure ambulances from Haarlemmermeer and California; hundreds of vehicles from Kaohsiong, fire trucks and cargo trucks from Japan, buses from Yokohama, 50 brand new garbage compactors from JICA, 10 compactors from Tourism, a fire truck form Xiamen and a Cadillac limousine from his sister, Minnie.

“Mike Rama cannot get similar donations. He is so incompetent that he is behaving like a snatcher from Colon: grabbing other people’s projects and vehicles,” he said. — /MBG (FREEMAN)