On Tomas as resource speaker on EJK: No moral ascendancy - Jun

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, Jr. yesterday questioned the “moral ascendancy” of former mayor Tomas Osmeña in talking about extra-judicial killings (EJK), following an invitation as a resource speaker at the House of Representatives quad committee hearing.

Alcover said he is alarmed by the timing of the invitation, so he called for a press conference yesterday to call Osmeña out.

Osmen?a was invited again, in aid of legislation, to speak tomorrow at the committee hearing about EJK in the country.

Alcover, a self-claimed advocate against EJK, said there could be a possibility that Osmen?a's invitation will be just used as a platform to establish his political intent in the 2025 elections.

"Ang point ana is, is he consistent? Duna ba siyay moral ascendancy to speak about EJK when, in fact, sa atong record will show, nga wala siyay moral ascendancy because, during his time, there were already EJKs," the councilor said.

Alcover said that on Aug. 21, 2018, when Osmen?a was still the mayor, Osmeña announced that he would continue to give a reward of P50,000 to those "who can kill ninja cops."

The term “ninja cops" was a label on police officers involved in the recycling and reselling of illegal drugs they seized during legitimate police operations.

"Katong mga killings nga iyang gi-encourage ang police nga tagaan niyag P50,000, kining kwartaha ra ba gikan sa panudlanan sa Cebu City," Alcover said.

He also said that in 2009, Human Rights Watch reported that there were 202 EJKs that happened under the mayorship of Osmen?a.

He likewise said that during Osmen?a’s incumbency, a "hunters team" composed of "elite cops" and sharpshooters allegedly headed by the late SPO1 Adonis Dumpit was created.

In a story by The Freeman on June 27, 2018, Osmeña described Dumpit as his most trusted aide for several years, until Dumpit was accused of killing a suspected robber in 2004.

Because of that complaint, Dumpit was charged in court and dismissed from the service but was later reinstated while his case was pending due to an appeal.

Dumpit’s good reputation, however, already suffered. And when joint operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation in Bohol and the Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office-7 launched a “drug interdiction” last June 26, 2018, Dumpit was killed.

Aside from that, Alcover said, Osme?a also pronounced that he would be giving out a P50,000 reward to the cops who can "kill criminals."

When asked who is the person fit instead to speak on EJK, Alcover said he did not have any one in mind, but said Congress could always find someone else as speaker instead of someone like Osmen?a, who has political interests to pursue.

"Ang point ani is, is he the right person?" said Alcover.

"Maayo nang iyang gihimo nga gi-expose niya ang EJK, pero ang pangutana siya mismo wa ba ma-involved sa EJK during his time (as mayor)?" he added.

He said inviting Osmen?a made Congress appear “inconsistent,” as the former mayor has an EJK record.

He said they are looking at officially lobby his concerns and his recommendations to the House of Representatives. He, however, clarified that he would not want to volunteer himself to be the resource speaker because he, too, is a politician.

"We will also send them (House of Representatives) copies sa mga records ni Tommy aron ma-balance ilang investigation," said Alcover.

He said that what he mostly has are "news clippings" to back his statements that would contained in his letter to Congress.

Alcover said they are set to send the letter within the week.

Sought for his reaction, Osmeña told reporters in a text message that Alcover has called himself “public enemy number 1” one time and even hinted that he is a “communist.”

“He just trying to get public attention or he will field his bullies declaring ‘way kulba’,” said Osmeña.

“Way Kulba” is Alcover’s political tagline. — /RHM