Osmeña, ex-dads told: Answer graft raps over P18 billion Kawit deal

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has ordered former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña and several city councilors to answer a graft complaint over the P18 billion deal involving the Kawit property at the South Road Properties.

Businessman and self-proclaimed anti-graft advocate Crisologo Saavedra Jr. filed the complaint.

The anti-graft office directed all respondents, Osmeña and several city councilors, to file their respective counter-affidavits and other controverting evidence, after it found enough basis to proceed with the investigation.

Aside from Osmeña, the other respondents are former city councilors Margarita Osmeña, Dave Tumulak, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, and Eugenio Gabuya Jr., and incumbent Councilors Jerry Guardo, Joy Augustus Young, Mary Ann Delos Santos, and Franklyn Ong.

All the respondents were complained of for the alleged violation of Republic Act No. 3019 section 3(e) and (g) docketed as OMB-V-A-22-0228 and for the Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and Conduct unbecoming of a public official docketed as OMB-V-C-22-0190.

It can be recalled that on April 27, 2022, the anti-graft office upgraded Saavedra’s complaint for preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication.

According to Saavedra, the agreement between the city government and Kawit Island developer was grossly disadvantageous to the city which prompted him to file a complaint before the anti-graft office. --  JMD (FREEMAN)