Over lamppost controversy: Teddy to sue Tom for libel

Feeling hurt, dismayed and humiliated, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano says he will file a libel suit against Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and all those who hurled accusations against him over the lamppost overpricing controversy.

"Mokiha na gyud ko. Pakauwaw na man gyud ning iyaha and all those who accused me apil nang mga newspapers," Ouano said adding that he will ask his battery of lawyers whether there's enough proof to sue Osmeña, among others.

Ouano's lawyer are former Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia, Manuel Monzon, Mario Ortiz, Provincial Board member Victor Maambong, Felipe Velasquez and Gloria Dalawampu

Ouano said that the Osmeñas, including former senator John "Sonny" Osmeña, have been accusing him of a lot of illegal activities. He recalled that four years ago, he was accused of being a rice smuggler and in year 2004 he was again accused of protecting the shabu laboratory.

"I have been accused by the Osmeñas unya after investigation, it was proven nga wa koy labot sa ilang pamasangil nako. Not even a word sorry, wa gyud. Mao karon mokiha na ko," the mayor said.

Ouano said that his family has been affected by the controversy and it is about time to vindicate their name by suing not just Osmeña but also whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra, among others.

"Ihampak unya na nako sa ilang ulo if proven nga sayop ilang pamasangil nako. Pirmi na lang gyud tawon ko ilampaso ani," Ouano said adding the overpricing controversy is just a political maneuvering of Tomas.

Tomas had said he felt embarrassed by insinuations that the mayors, himself included, made money from the transaction. The lamps were installed in the three cities of Metro Cebu for the 12th ASEAN Summit last January.

Ouano explained that the city of Mandaue just prepared the Program of Works and Estimates for the installation of decorative lampposts, which now being investigated as overpriced items.

Ouano washed his hands of the procurement of the lampposts, saying the POWE prepared by city engineer Haidee Latonio only indicated where the posts will be installed in his city.

About 1,800 decorative lampposts were installed along the ceremonial routes in the cities of Mandaue, Cebu and Lapu-Lapu to beautify the areas used by the visiting delegates of the recently concluded summit.

The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has indicted Ouano, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and several ranking officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways on both criminal and administrative charges for corruption, dishonesty and grave misconduct after graft investigators found out that the controversial decorative lampposts and street lighting facilities were grossly overpriced.

The panel recommended that a formal investigation be conducted against Ouano and Radaza for violation of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act after three weeks of fact-finding, that the 1,860 pieces of decorative lampposts and street lighting facilities installed during the ASEAN Summit were indeed overpriced.

The fact-finding investigation stemmed from a request for assistance filed by the militant groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Panaghugpong sa Kabus sa Dakbayan, Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas, Panaghiusa sa Gagmay'ng Mangingisda sa Sugbo and Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo.

Ouano said as of yesterday, he has not yet received the official copy of the fact-finding result but said once he gets a copy, he will immediately ask his lawyers to study on it and what legal remedies to take. -/BRP