City scholar threatened by Rama's staff?

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama's chief of staff Philipp Zafra has been accused by the president of the Cebu City Scholars of threatening him because he is supporting the mayoralty bid of Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

Gerald Lariosa, who is taking up Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at the Asian College of Technology, said Zafra called him up through his mobile phone at shortly before noon last Tuesday and told him to stop supporting Osmeña.

Lariosa said he recorded his conversation with Zafra over the phone and allowed other city scholars to hear it during a press conference at the Mariner's Court at past 1 p.m. yesterday.

According to Lariosa that he was scared when Zafra warned him by saying: "Basta ako Gerald, ayaw lang g'yud ko'g binuangi wala ka makaila nako. Kon magpadala ka anang Nanette pirmi, bantay ka lang ha?"

Zafra was referring to Nanette Garong, the anchor of the paid radio program of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan aired over dyLA.

"Dili g'yud ko magpanuko Gerald, warningan tika nga ayaw padala anang politika's pikas kay og imo gani nga sagolan og pamolitika ang serbisyo sa gobyerno ako ang imong maatubang," Lariosa quoted Zafra during their phone conversation.

Frightened by the warning, Lariosa decided to have the threat blottered at the Fuente Police Station then called for a press conference attended by other officials and city scholars from different schools in the city.

In a separate interview, Zafra admitted he called up Lariosa. But he said his purpose was just to remind him that he should submit his liquidation report about the cash advances granted to him for the various projects of the city scholars.

Zafra said it was the time that he warned Lariosa to settle the amount given to him rather than to make political issues and destroy the city's scholarship program.

"May nagsulti man gud nako nga kana si Lariosa ingnon niya ang mga city scholars nga kon makadaug si Mayor Rama dili na ipadayon ang scholarship, binuang na man 'nang iya," said Zafra.

In a related issue, Osmeña claimed Team Rama propagandists are also spreading rumors that if he will win as mayor on Monday the poor families living in lots that do not belong to them shall be evicted. Osmeña said he also received reports that the Team Rama propagandists said that the cash assistance to the senior citizens will be reduced and that the teachers will be made to refund the cash assistance given to them by Rama last December, which he said are pure lies. –(FREEMAN)