Guardo says Osmeña just diverting from real issue

CEBU, Philippines - Opposition stalwart Jonathan Guardo was quick to criticize the recent move of the City Hall and Mayor Tomas Osmeña in particular, to close down the restobar in Barangay Kamagayan amid the recent controversy involving his son.

The restobar is allegedly where Miguel Osmeña’s girlfriend got drunk and passed out that caused the mayor’s son to get angry and harass the woman who was with his girlfriend when the incident happened.

“That is a side issue, while businesses are expected to follow the law, the incident was not about the restobar and its alleged violations but about a threat hurled allegedly by the mayor’s son,” Guardo said, adding the act of the mayor is a form of business terrorism.

Guardo said the issue at hand is about the “brazen display of power” allegedly by Miguel, who sent threatening text messages to and caused a bullet hole on the camera of Samantha Elise Benitez, a friend of his girlfriend, Ana Gabriela Beatriz Villegas.

“The mayor is coming to the rescue. Let the axe fall where it must not on scapegoats like hapless business establishments,” he said.

Guardo, who is expected to be the mayor’s opponent once the latter decides to run as congressman in the city’s south district, said everybody would want to know who threatened Benitez and the police should do their work.

However, Mayor Osmeña brushed off Guardo’s accusations saying “I didn’t know anything about restobar not having permits.”

In a text message to The FREEMAN, the mayor admitted having signed about 80 closure orders just a few days before the issue broke out for lacking various permits. “Waay pili-pili. Check with the treasurer’s office,” he added.

City Administrator Francisco Fernandez has allegedly ordered the inspection and closure of Bakak Restobar Ltd in Barangay Kamagayan, considering the incident as a wake up call on the city’s implementation of liquor laws particularly the ban on selling to minors.

Friday last week, Benitez and Villegas allegedly had a drink at the said restobar where Villegas got severely drunk. But Benitez said she had to leave Villegas as she had to comfort another friend who received harsh words from her brother who caught them in the said condition.

Benitez said she was not able to return to the restobar and learned later that Villegas was fetched by Miguel and was eventually brought to a hospital. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB