Mysterious tarpaulin suggests: After Ungab, Rama ‘next’?

CEBU, Philippines — A tarpaulin draped on  skywalk in Cebu City yesterday caught the attention of motorists and pedestrians for the message it blared: former mayor Michael Rama is “next” to be killed.

The tarpaulin, which was found hanged on skywalk in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, featured a February 2016 photo of Rama administering the oath of then Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., father of Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa who President Duterte tagged as a bigtime drug lord in Eastern Visayas.

Rama administered the oath of Mayor Espinosa as he was the Visayas chairman of the United Nationalist Alliance, the party of former vice president Jejomar Binay.

Also in the photo was lawyer and Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab.

It can be recalled that Mayor Espinosa was killed in a police operation inside the Baybay City Jail in Leyte in November that year, while Ungab was ambushed outside the Cebu City Hall of Justice last Monday.

In the tarpaulin, the faces of Espinosa and Ungab were marked with an “X,” and the words “Ikaw sunod” (you are next) could be seen on top of the encircled face of Rama.

The former Cebu City mayor was quick to brand this an “inhumane machination.”

“Mao nay ginganlan nga kon mao na atong huna-hunaon, dili nalang sad ta mopuyo, dili nalang sad ta momata. We have to wake up and we have to stand and stand on what we believe is right,” he said.

On at least two occasions, Rama was named as a narco-politician by the president. Yesterday, he denied once again such allegations.  Nevertheless, Rama said he is continuously seeking audience with Duterte to clear his name.

“I wish nga maabot nga magkaistorya mi. Naay ni-assure nako nga mo-set og meeting namong president. Ako lang nang i-follow up,” he said.

“I’ve been working out (to get an audience with Duterte) kay dili man na tinuod. Naay drug protector nga klaro kaayong nailhan niadto. It is not going to be surprising nga siyay nganlan. Walay iota of evidence that I am involved in drugs. Kinsa may drug lord akong giprotektahan?” Rama said.

A BAD JOKE

Superintendent Ryan Devaras, chief of Investigation and Detective Management Branch, said police are now checking available closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras that might have captured those responsible.

“Usa sa gitan-aw kinsa ang gabutang, if na-capture ba sa CCTV. If madakpan, if ever ma-interview, we will ask unsa ang motive ug kinsa gasugo niya,” Devaras said, adding it was “not a good joke.”

He said it would be better for Rama to enhance his security detail. Should the former mayor request from the police, they will refer him to the higher headquarters.

Devaras also said they are now determining the criminal liabilities of those behind the act, as he welcomed Rama to file a complaint before the Cebu City Police Office.

“It could be a threat sa iyaha (Rama). Basta nakabutang didto ‘ikaw na sunod.’ We will see kung naa ma-identify nga kaso,” he said.

Political maneuver?

Rama believes that his political opponents were behind the printing of the photo to derail his plans of running for mayor in 2019 (see separate story on Page 1).

“Dili ko mahulga og mga ingon ana. The only one possible naghimo ana mga kontra na, because I always look at it as something to do with my declaration that I am running again. It has something to do with politics,” Rama said.

Osmeña, in a separate interview, slammed Rama’s statements.

“He (Rama) is entitled to think what he wants to think. He should be careful. That’s a warning to him. Don’t blame everything on me. Even the president says he’s involved with drugs. Blaming me on that also? Of course not. Wala koy labot,” the mayor said.

“You know, it’s the same thing with (the late Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo) Rupinta. Once you get involved with drugs, you can have all kinds of enemies. Who did you double-cross? That’s what I suspect with Rupinta,” he added.

Rama said except for the tarpaulin, he has not received any death threats recently. He also does not see the need to request for security personnel.

He said he does not feel threatened because the “prayers and the guidance of his ancestors” protect and guide him.  Nevertheless, he will consult his lawyers to check if there’s a need to blotter the incident.

Henry Navarro, chief tanod of Barangay Basak-Pardo, said his office received complaints at 6 a.m. yesterday about the presence of a tarpaulin hanged on skywalk in the neighboring barangay.

When his team went to the area, however, the tarpaulin was not there already.

Barug Team Rama councilors Joel Garganera and Phillip Zafra condemned the tarpaulin’s posting.

Garganera thinks that Osmeña could be behind it as the latter will benefit if Rama’s name is destroyed.

Police have, meanwhile, assured that they will not be used as a tool to advance political motives. (FREEMAN)