Bry. leader ready to face raps

REP. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) wants Sawang Calero Barangay Captain Benjamin Zabate relieved from his post and placed behind bars over an incident last Aug. 9.

Zabate allegedly fired his gun indiscriminately at the Osmeña Youth Empowered for Service (O’Yes) during the feast of Our Lourdes Parish.

According to the affidavit of May Ann Guillen de la Cruz, their group was holding a variety show in the gym in Block 6 around 9 p.m.

“As the program commenced, I saw a band of men who were having a drinking session adjacent to the basketball court where we conducted our program and as far as I knew, one of them was Barangay Captain Zabate,” she said.

Criminal, administrative case

When their program ended shortly before midnight, de la Cruz said she saw Zabate get his gun and fire it in the air outside his residence, which is just adjacent to the gym.

“I felt nervous and I was afraid,” she said.

Other members of O’Yes supported her claims.

In a news conference he called at his house in Barangay Guadalupe yesterday, Osmeña said he will hire a group of special lawyers who will file a criminal and administrative case against Zabate.

Sought for comment about the matter, Zabate said he is not afraid. “I’m ready to go to jail,” he said in Cebuano.

Just politics

Zabate, who is on his third term, described Osmeña’s move as political harassment because he (Zabate) is backing Mayor Michael Rama’s reelection bid next year, as well as the candidacies of other members of Team Rama.

“Kahibaw ka kung election, pangitaan man gyud ta ug pasangil. Bisan unsay na lay ipasangil. Pero andam ta muatubang og motubag ana sa korte (Come election, there’s always mudslinging. Your opponent will heap accusations against you. I’m ready to face and answer the charges in court),” he said.

Asked if he really fired his gun, Zabate said he will answer the question in the proper forum, which is in the court.