John O wants son’s link to ephedrine smuggle probed

Sen. John Osmeña asked three government agencies yesterday to speed up the investigation into allegations that his son, Cebu Vice Gov. John Gregory Osmeña, was involved in the smuggling in Cebu City of P3.4 billion worth of an illegal substance used in manufacturing shabu.

Cebu Customs Collector Billy Bibit said the shipment of pseudoephedrine was consigned to a certain Mike Cummings of Coastwide Ventures Inc., with address at Unit E-19, Kings Warehouse Plaza, Hernan Cortez street, Mandaue City.

Two Customs officials, who requested anonymity, have pointed to Vice Governor Osmeña as the one who called them up to make sure that the P3.6 billion worth of pseudoephedrine is released.

They are set to submit to the NBI affidavits linking the vice-governor to the foiled smuggling.

Customs police chief Capt. Isidro Estrera has alleged that a politician and his aide had offered him P20 million for the release of the contraband.

However, he was quick to say that he did not know who had called him up.

Speaking to reporters, Senator Osmeña said the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Department of Justice must find out how some 1,700 kilos of pseudoephedrine were smuggled last week via the port of Cebu.

Senator Osmeña said he will not intervene in any investigation on his son’s alleged involvement in the smuggling of pseudoephedrine.

"I assure our law enforcers and all the laments in our justice system that I will not interfere nor be involved in any way in their investigations," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, commander of the anti-illegal drugs task force of the Philippine National Police, has ordered his men to file criminal charges in court against Vice Governor Osmeña if they have evidence linking him to drug smuggling.

"Kung meron evidence yung naatasan na mag file ng case, gawin nila," he said. "Kung wala, di huwag. Yan ang process, basta ikaw may kasalanan at may ebidensya laban sa iyo, dapat kastiguhin ka."

Aglipay said the PDEA has taken over the case of the vice governor, and that any evidence they have gathered should be handed over to his task force so they could file the case in court.

"I was briefed and the guidance is that they must see to it that they have complete evidence before they can divulge anything to the press," he said.

However, National Bureau of Investigation agent Reynaldo Esmeralda said yesterday the NBI does not have evidence linking the young Osmeña to pseudoephedrine smuggling.

Esmeralda said it is unfair for the vice governor as it is his aide, Joebert Cuesta, who has been linked to the smuggling of the illegal substance.

"Kung ano mang ginawa ni Joebert is not the act of the vice governor unless there is an imprimatur of the vice governor," he said. "Our own actions are our own responsibility."

Esmeralda said his office has already asked the NBI central office in Manila to find Cuesta’s personnel records to determine his true identity.

However, Esmeralda said he is not discounting the possibility that other people may have the same name as that of Osmeña’s aide.

On the other hand, Gov. Pablo Garcia has implied that Vice Governor Osmeña must resign out of delicadeza.

"Dili na kalikay si John-John niini, dili na siya ka pamalibad sa iyang involvement through sa iyang mga tawo (John-John cannot tell lies about his involvement,)" he said.

"In fairness to his father, nagbuling-buling siya sa ngalan sa mga Osmeña (he besmirched the name of the Osmeñas)," he added.

Vice Governor Osmeña’s name has surfaced as the alleged telephone caller who tried to intercede for the release of the seized pseudoephedrine from China.

On the other hand, documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission have linked Vice-Governor Osmeña to the pseudoephedrine shipment.

Based on the articles of incorporation of Coastside Ventures Inc., the consignee of the 60 drums of ephedrine, one of its incorporators, Teodora Limcangco, was also an incorporator of the controversial Perdido Lex Foundation.

Perdido Lex is the ghost foundation that has allegedly duped the Cebu provincial government of P5 million from Vice Governor Osmeña’s discretionary funds.

A certification from the PDEA, dated Sept. 16, 2003, also linked the vice governor to the shipment after Cuesta was identified as the president of Coastside Ventures.

However, Cuesta denied any connection with the corporation and the shipment of pseudoephedrine.

He went to the NBI yesterday afternoon to execute an affidavit denying any involvement in the smuggling of the contraband.

On the other hand, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said his nephew should cooperate with authorities to clear his name.

Mayor Osmeña said does not believe that the vice-governor has the gall to risk his name by importing an ingredient for the manufacture of shabu.

"But he better explain himself," he said.

Mayor Osmeña said he believes the people around his nephew could be responsible for the mischief, and that the candidacy of the vice-governor’s father, reelectionist Senator Osmeña might be affected.

He is confident that his political career will not suffer from the controversy because Cebuanos are discerning, Mayor Osmeña said.

Senator Osmeña said his 34-year-old son has always been independent, and that he does not know what he has been doing nor where he is headed.

"A parent finds himself in a painful dilemma when a child is alleged to have transgressed the law," he said. "You cannot turn your back neither can you allow the same."

Osmeña said he has always safeguarded his family’s name and that it has never been sullied by any controversy.

"I have been in public office for over 40 years," he said. "He is also a public official. We are governed by laws. Let the law take its course."

Vice-Governor Osmeña is seeking reelection under the pro-administration Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan. — With reports from Christina Mendez, Freeman News Service