Osmeña bares investigation on his properties

CEBU, Philippines - Somebody is gathering documents from different government offices to support allegations that Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña had acquired several properties during his stint as city mayor and as lawmaker.

 Osmeña told news reporters yesterday that some of his loyal supporters from different government offices told him that somebody had been asking for documents about properties registered under the former mayor’s name.

 But Osmeña just laughed off these reports even as he admitted that it is true. Osmeña said there are several real properties in Cebu City and even in other nearby places that are registered under the name “Tomas Osmeña,” but not all of them are his properties.

 He said that aside from him, there are several persons in Cebu City named Tomas Osmeña, including a naturalized Chinese citizen.

 “Some of the properties that are registered under the name of Tomas Osmeña were acquired still in 1935,” Osmeña said.

 Osmeña smiled and pointed out that he was born only in July 26, 1948.

 According to Osmeña, he decided to announce it to the media so that the news reporters will no longer be alarmed once they know of the ongoing “investigation” being conducted by some persons.

 There were reports that someone filed a complaint about Osmeña’s allegedly questionable properties before the Office of the Ombudsman, but the personnel of the anti-graft office did not confirm it.

 The congressman added that even at the Osmeña mausoleum along M.J. Cuenco Avenue, he was surprised to see his name on one of the tombs. “Na-surprise ko sa una nako nga pagkakita nga naa man ang akong ngalan sa lubong nga buhi pa man ko.” (When I first saw it, I was surprised to see my name on the tomb when I am still alive.)

 Osmeña did not know how he is related to that person buried in the cemetery but he believed it may be his relative.

 Although Osmeña has P4.1 million -worth of properties that he declared in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, the congressman is still renting a house in barangay Guadalupe. (FREEMAN)