Rama shows up at CIDG-7

CEBU, Philippines - While his name was previously tagged as a drug protector, former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama said he has not received any subpoena or formal complaint filed against him that links him to the illegal drug trade.

Even then, Rama appears to be taking steps to clear his name.

“Wala ko’y nadawat subpoena. Kadugay na nakong sige’g pangita asa ilang reklamo. Dili nalang ko mopuno og istorya kay bati na kaayo,” he told The FREEMAN by phone yesterday, hours after meeting with officials of the Police Regional Office-7’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Director Royina Garma.

Rama described the one-hour meeting as “good and cordial,” but he declined to divulge further details. According to the former mayor, he met with CIDG-7 officials through the intervention of someone whose name he did not reveal.

However, he said the meeting did not necessarily mean it was a way to clear his name.

“I want to be fair, especially kani silang mga grupoha (CIDG) karon, I can say that they are doing their job and working very well,” Rama told reporters in a quick interview after the meeting.

Rama said he understands the actions taken by the CIDG as it is just doing its job, but he refused to qualify his statement.

“I will cooperate with the authorities willingly. Let’s support them,” he added.

No less than President Duterte dropped Rama’s name, at least two times, as an alleged drug protector.  Rama had been seeking audience with the president but to no avail.

The last time he was in a meeting with somebody from the Duterte administration was “five or six months ago,” when he talked with then Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Ismael Sueno.

Rama did not elaborate on that meeting, though. Sueno had also been long removed from his post by the president over allegations of corruption.

Asked for the next steps he will make to correct such reports, Rama’s short reply was: “Abangan.”

Rama believes the perception about him would be “rectified” someday as he stressed that he has not been involved in the illegal drugs.

“Someday, the truth will unravel and the truth will set me free,” he said.

Rama added that he is not concerned much about his security because he is not guilty to the accusations hurled against him. — with Ermida Q. Moradas (FREEMAN)