Mayor dared to sue Tomas

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cebu City mayor and south district congressman Tomas Osmeña challenged Mayor Michael Rama to sue him after stating that the latter “has a serious drug problem” in his official Facebook account Monday evening.

Osmeña said he is coming to the defense of the netizens who were allegedly “personally attacked” by Rama.

“You know what? If Mr. Rama truly believes that the netizens are being libelous and isn't just out to bully them because Facebook hurt his feelings, I'll say it myself. I'll give him the opportunity to put his money where his mouth is. In my opinion - and in the opinion of many others - from just looking at his pattern of behavior in the past few years, seeing how he has almost no interest in fixing the problem of drugs in Cebu, and reading his statement that drug testing is ‘not good for any public official because it would bring them to public scrutiny,’ you cannot ignore the possibility that in the city of Cebu, MAYOR RAMA HAS A SERIOUS DRUG PROBLEM,” Osmeña’s post read.

“There. I said it too. Why don't you sue me instead Mr. Rama? I'm saying the same things the netizens of Cebu are saying. We've all connected the dots. Why single out netizens? How many years has it been since your cousin (the late George Rama) would say in your pulong-pulongs that I will die of cancer soon? I never sued him. Pick on someone your own size. Sue. ME,” he added.

Osmeña also criticized Rama’s physical appearance saying it is clear Rama has been losing some weight.

However, Rama said he has been diagnosed with diabetes that is why he is conscious about what he eats.

“Tell me, how many people with diabetes do you know when talking about government workers using drugs would say, ‘Naa man gyud trabaho nga kinahanglan way tulog so prone kaayo na sila. They will go into means that will bring them fully awake.’ As one netizen said, ‘Personal experience ni nimo?’ Other netizens, including call center agents and nurses, added that they never used drugs,” Osmeña’s post further read.

“How many diabetics would be against setting guidelines in the hiring of barangay workers because the city is, in Mr. Rama's own words, ‘encouraging empowerment and professionalism?’ As far back as April 2014, 89 barangay workers tested positive for drugs, but Mr. Rama thinks that it encourages empowerment and professionalism to NOT set guidelines to make sure the people you hire aren't on drugs?” Osmeña added.

In his post, Osmeña also mentioned various newspaper reports about the Rama administration in terms of the campaign against drugs and the way Rama was allegedly not alarmed over the reported increase number of employees in Cebu City Hall found positive of using illegal drugs.

Osmeña said the mayor reportedly declined to take a drug test.

“Over the past 2 years, Mike Rama has declined a drug test because it would ‘just put those caught to shame,’ called a drug den found 10 meters beside City Hall ‘not surprising,’ and called government workers using drugs ‘not alarming.’ At least 42 City Hall workers have been caught using drugs in the past year alone, and he reacts to the drug den by stating that he wants to move the 2 police outposts that are closest to the drug den AWAY from it,” Osmeña said.

He questioned why the National Bureau of Investigation, over which Rama does not have any control, succeeded in raiding the drug den and not the Cebu City Police Office.

“In my time, drug dealers weren't defended, they were shot. Do you want drug addicts working in the government offices that serve you? Do you want the barangay tanods who patrol your streets to possibly be drug addicts themselves because the mayor is against setting guidelines in their hiring?” Osmeña said.

He called Rama a coward for intimidating the netizens.

“Netizens of Cebu, I stand with you. If anyone is being personally targeted by Mike Rama or someone in the city government acting on his behalf, please message me with screenshots or call my office at 032 254 2800. I will stand up for you,” Osmeña said.

When sought for his comment, Rama said his lawyers are still collating evidence that can be used it in court against netizens.

Rama, who is in Manila for an educational tour, told reporters via telephone conference he will sue Osmeña if the latter will categorically say that he is a “drug addict.”

“Just tell me that I'm an addict and I'll sue him. Is he accusing me directly? Publicly? He better make that statement. Because if he's going to make that statement, then I will entertain and consult with my lawyer on what ought to be done against him,” Rama said.

He said he took a drug test last month together with other Cebu City Hall department heads and Cebu City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention chief Dr. Alice Utlang already released the result which says that he is not using illegal drugs.

When asked if he would undergo a drug test again, Rama said he will not do it if the purpose is just to satisfy Osmeña.

“Their approach is destruction and that would not be anymore too good. That's why on my part, and on the part of my family, and on the party's side, of course I will be asking my group. Whether it has also affected them and then they will probably also be telling me and suggesting for overall position of the party,” he said. —/BRP (FREEMAN)