Rama to file case vs Osmeña before Ombudsman today
CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has changed his mind and decided to take the dare of Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) to file a case against him over the allegedly irregular use of Dodge Charger vehicles that were initially intended to be donated to Cebu City.
The mayor, who will be accompanied by several sectors of society, will be filing a case today against Osmeña before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
The mayor will charge Osmeña with alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 6713, or the the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which
prohibits public officials from soliciting or accepting gifts.
Section 7 of the law provides that “public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”
No copy yet
A copy of the complaint that was prepared by the City Legal Office was not yet available last night, though.
The two dodge charger vehicles, one of which looks like a police car, were supposed to be donated by Bigfoot Entertainment chairman Michael Gleissner to the City Government when Osmeña was still mayor in 2009.
However, Gleissner reportedly decided to give these to him instead, after learning that his term as mayor would end in 2010.
Bigfoot is the first locator in the City-owned 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP) and is the lessee of a two-hectare area, where he built a movie studio.
Osmeña said he doesn’t own the vehicles as these were bought by his sister Maria Victoria “Minnie” Osmeña and his son Paolo.
However, records of the Land Transportation Office shows that the vehicle was only bought this year.
Usurpation
Rama reportedly will also charge Osmeña with violation of RA 3815 or the Revised Penal Code, particularly for usurpation of public function and authority.
This is because Osmeña is using a car marked with “Cebu City Police,” bears the City Government seal, and has overhead sirens even though he is not a police official.
Article 177 of the law provides that any person is not allowed to knowingly and falsely represent himself to be an officer, agent or representative of any department or agency without lawfully being entitled to do so.
Sought for comment about the matter, Osmeña said Rama’s move to file a case against him is “showbiz.”
He said the case will be a chance for him to explain and counter the alleged “character assassination” against him.
Osmeña earlier challenged those who questioned his use of the Dodge Charger vehicle to sue him.
Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama to file case vs Tomas Osmeña before Ombudsman today | Sun.Star