Over dodge chargers: Osmeña to face formal criminal, admin cases

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has upgraded its investigation into the complaint filed against former Cebu City mayor  Tomas  Osmeña that alleged he privately used the controversial  Dodge  Charger cars that were reportedly donated to the city government.

 Lawyer Ma. Corazon Naraja, spokesperson of the Ombudsman-Visayas, confirmed the upgrading of the complaint to criminal and administrative cases but refused to provide further details.

“I checked with our records. We do have pending administrative and criminal cases against former mayor Osmeña regarding Dodge cars. Fact-finding case was upgraded to criminal and administrative cases on November 24, 2015,” read Naraja’s text message to The FREEMAN.

Naraja said the upgrading of the fact-finding inquiry into formal criminal and administrative cases means that the graft investigator found sufficient basis to conduct a preliminary investigation.

“I can no longer divulge other details except that the office will observe the due process requirements under Ombudsman law and rules,” she added.

Osmeña welcomed the upgrading of the case saying he will be “happy to answer the charges.”

The former mayor, however, asked the anti-graft body what crime he committed.

“Why are they pretending that I committed a crime? What is the crime?” Osmeña asked.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by suspended Mayor Michael Rama in 2012. Rama asked the anti-graft body to investigate his former ally-turned political rival for alleged violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Rama alleged that Osmeña accepted two US-made Dodge Charger cars donated by businessman Michael Gleissner, chairman of Bigfoot Entertainment, during his term as mayor. The cars were not turned over to the city government after his term expired but were instead used personally by Osmeña.

The former mayor, however, said the cars are not with him anymore. He added that these were never donated to the city government. Osmeña said the cars were bought by his sister, Minnie, and his nephew.

“It has been alleged that the car was donated to the city, so where is the evidence? Where is the deed of donation? Where is the City Council resolution for the deed of acceptance? Where is the registration that shows that it’s owned by the city? So what’s the problem?” Osmeña said.

He believes that the complaint was politically-motivated as one of the members of the Team Rama, acting mayor Edgardo Labella, was previously connected with the Office of the Ombudsman.

“They have been investigating it for almost five years. I will be happy to answer the charges. Number one, those cars are not with me. Number two, they were never donated to the city. Maybe they are investigating this because Labella has been the chair of the Ombudsman,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said there were rumors that he gave Gleissner a “sweetheart deal” when his company made investments in 2007 at the South Road Properties.

“They said that I gave Gleissner a sweetheart deal at SRP because of that he gave me those cars. What is a sweet heart deal? Gleissner lease the property of the city, the one at the SRP. How is it advantageous to Gleissner when he never even used the property? He is paying rent. So, who earns the money, Gleissner? No, it’s the city,” he said.

Osmeña said Gleissner leased the property of the city government and gave P60 million to P80 million as advance payment.—/FPL (FREEMAN)