Tomas extends leave for another 30 days

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña is extending his leave of absence for another 30 days pending the outcome of the investigation conducted by the police on allegations that his only son, Miguel, threatened the lady friend of his girlfriend.

Osmeña who was in Zamboanga City yesterday called up The FREEMAN and said he will file another one month leave of absence with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) once he returns to Cebu City today.

The mayor said he went to Zamboanga City to attend the wedding anniversary of a prominent couple that Osmeña’s father — the late former Senator Serging Osmeña Jr. — was one of the wedding sponsors.

Osmeña said he does not want to return to being mayor pending the results of the probe to avoid speculations from the public that the will influence the investigation.

He is hoping that the investigation now conducted by the police will be completed before October 31.

The mayor also bared plans to resign from his post, but he has asked the opinion of the women’s sector if they agree of his plan.

Businessman Jonathan Guardo, who is running for congressman in the city’s South District, said Osmeña’s real reason to resign is for him to concentrate his campaign.

Osmeña had already announced that he may be forced to run for congressman of the South District, because there is no other strong candidate from the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan that can fight with Guardo.

The 24-year-old son of the mayor has been accused by Samantha Elise Benitez as the one who destroyed her camera by shooting it and threatening her by sending a text message warning her that the next bullet may land on her head.

The report said that Miguel got mad at Samantha because the latter left his girlfriend Bea Villegas after she got drunk at Bakak Resto Bar along Pelaez Street.

Miguel reportedly found Samantha’s camera in Bea’s bag.

The camera was returned to Samantha’s house, but it was just hanged at their gate already had a bullet hole.

The mayor said his son who is presently studying at the University of California Los Angeles is very eager to answer the issue, but he advised him to wait for the proper time.

Case conference

Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu City Police Office, ordered for a case conference yesterday afternoon on the complaint against Miguel.

Comendador said he will issue his statements or the result of the said case conference today.

He said he has already called the attention of P/Sr. Insp. David Señor, the newly assigned chief of Mabolo Police Station, who has been tasked to lead the investigation, to give them the update.

He said they will analyze the evidence that the investigating group may have recovered.

Comendador said that the Benitez family has not yet turned over to the police the digital camera and cellular phone that contained threatening messages allegedly from Miguel.

These two items are reportedly vital in the investigation, but the family, despite the letters that the police sent to them, has not cooperated.

Comendador said that whatever decision Señor may arrive at over the matter, the CCPO will back him up by giving him “collective guidance.”

“It will be his decision with our guidance. We will let him decide matters within his ambit, kay siya man ang commander sa station na ato gi-task to conduct the investigation,” Comendador said.

He also assured that there would be no bias.

“We will not give preference or emphasis on this incident just because the people involved are high-profile. Bisan ang victim ug ang suspect dato man o pobre, supposedly ang atong approach is pareha ra g’yud,” Comendador said. — Rene U. Borromeo with Niña Sumacot/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)