Ombud going after Tomas, Jonas?

Saturday, January 28, 2012

BEFORE the anti-graft office reveals the result of its inquiry on the real properties of two Cebuano officials, Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) admitted that there are a number of properties under the name Tomas Osmeña.

However, these are owned by his namesake.

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The other Tomas is said to be the congressman’s great grand-uncle.

Osmeña said he may have seen his own name on a tomb at the Osmeña Mausoleum.

He invited reporters to a luncheon press conference yesterday where he revealed that he and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes are being checked by the anti-graft office over property ownership.

When asked how he knew about the inquiry, Osmeña said he has his own resources.

Pre-emptive strike

He said he doesn’t know why he and Cortes are being singled out.

“There are many pro-perties under the name of Tomas Osmeña, but when you look at the titles, they were owned before World War II,” the congressman said.

He admitted that he wants to make a statement before the anti-graft office makes a report on the matter and the media pounces on it without verifying if the real property owner is the one in office.

Meanwhile, Osmeña also shared his views on the ongoing impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Only fair

While he did not sign the impeachment complaint and was never inclined to do so, Osmeña believes Corona should be impeached.

He said he just didn’t like the way Congress handled it by giving congressmen a 77-page impeachment complaint with the directive to have it signed in the next 10 minutes.

Osmeña, though, was in the US when the complaint was passed.

He said Corona also deserves the chance to answer the allegations against him.

“People will be the judge. If Corona is clearly guilty but will be found innocent based on a technicality then there will be serious repercussions during the elections,” Osmeña said.

He also defended his brother, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, amid criticism that the latter is a member of the “silent committee,” as he has not been active during the televised impeachment proceedings.

“He is very active in the background, but he is not grandstanding. They have discussions, not only during the proceedings, and Serge is influential in the Senate and is very respected,” said Osmeña of his brother.