After filing complaint vs Garcia: ruiz ‘Attacked by online trolls’

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City mayoralty candidate Yogi Felimon Ruiz yesterday revealed having received both ridicule and harassment from online “trolls” after filing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against ascended Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia.

The complaint was over lampposts installed on a portion of Osmen?a Blvd. in line with the Cebu Bus Rapid Transport’s link-to port component that Garcia ordered removed after a public clamor.

In a press conference, at Sacred Heart Center, Ruiz reiterated he has evidence to back his claim and disclosed that online trolls have started operating against him the other night.

“Nagsugod na, buto-buto na ila trolls…. Init na kaayo mga cellphones sa ilang mga trolls…. Init na kaayo ang mga laptop,” he said.

Ruiz said he could not pinpoint from which camp the online trolls came from, only that they are using Virtual Private Network technology.

“Ang problema nila, usa ra ilang VPN.  Nakalimot siguro sila unsay akong trabaho. Nakalimot siguro unsay akong kapasidad,” he said.

He reminded everyone that before he became a Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner, he worked as BOC investigator. He is also a former regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a special body that specializes in intelligence gathering to combat illegal-drug proliferation in the country.

Ruiz, however, said yesterday he is not planning to file any charges against these online trolls anytime soon, as he understands that they are just paid to do their job. He said, though, that he might just visit them instead and soon.

“So, nakita na nato, same group of people, kahibaw ta og asa, duha ka lugar kung asa sila naglingkodlingkod, ato lang nya na silang bisitahon puhon,” Ruiz said.

Trying to keep his cool, Ruiz said he just want everyone not to put any political color into the complaint he filed against Garcia.

“I am doing this as Yogi Ruiz nga usa ka amahan. Ako ning gihimo para sa atong mga anak, para sa atong mga apo. If we will not do this, kinsa man?” he said.

He also said he has trust in the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Ako lang mensahe, the case had been filed, let the Ombudsman do his job. Ayaw sa ninyo paganaha inyong mga trolls, papahuwaya sa na sila kay layo pang election. Basi’g mapayngan nya mo’g kuryente,” Ruiz said.

He said he gave Garcia ample time to solve the situation that beset the CBRT, especially on the dangers posed by each area where the lampposts used to be, as they are allegedly left unattended Ruiz. He also alleged the lack of permits and the additional traffic inconvenience the project caused.

He said that as more individuals, including those in the business sector, asked for his help regarding the situation, he reached out to Garcia via an open letter posted on Facebook and through a Public Information Office officer he did not name to address their concern, but to no avail.

Ruiz said he also has questions as to whom the link-to-port project was awarded to and its budget. He, however, did not reveal the information he learned, saying he submitted it along with his complaint.

Ruiz clarified that he is pro-development, as he was during his time with the BOC, when he moved for its modernization. He said he is only after the safety of every Cebuano, that it should not be compromised.

The city government under Garcia, Ruiz said, should not wait for another accident, and worse, death, to happen before doing its job well.

On the other hand, Garcia, in response to the allegations of continued negligence regarding the safety of the Cebuanos, said he will be calling the attention of the CBRT management, led by Engr. Norvin Ibong, and the Department of Transportation, to look into it.

Garcia said he has not yet received a copy of Ruiz’s complaint so he would not comment on it yet. (CEBU NEWS)