CEBU City Acting Mayor Michael Rama welcomed the Cebu City Police Office’s (CCPO) investigation on the allegations against Miguel Osmeña, and said he will keep his hands off the probe.

Rama also appealed to the family of Miguel’s accuser and the public to give the city police the chance to do their job, amid suspicions that the police can be influenced by the city officials in their investigation.

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He would not comment yet on the possible extension of his stint as acting mayor, following Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s decision to go on indefinite leave upon his arrival tomorrow noon.

He pointed out, though, that Osmeña filed a medical leave of absence until Sept. 30, so the mayor is not expected to be back at City Hall until then.

In his news conference yesterday, the acting mayor said he is happy that CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador took it upon himself to investigate the incident, as it addresses suspicions that City Hall is keeping mum on the matter, or is intervening in police operations.

“I’m happy he came out (with investigation)... That’s a police matter, the police will take care of that... Unless proven guilty, there’s still the presumption of innocence.

So regardless of position, we have to follow the law that applies to everyone. We have to be mindful of due process,” Rama said.

He said that during the regular meeting of the City’s Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) last Friday, Comendador already told him that he has ordered the Mabolo Police Station to look into the allegations against Miguel.

Samantha Elise Diores Benitez, 20, reported to the police station last Sept. 14 the threats she allegedly received from Miguel, which included the text message that read:

“The next time that has to happen, Sam, the bullet goes through your head.”

She also accused Miguel of shooting her camera with a gun.

Comendador, in a separate interview, said they need the destroyed digital camera and the cellular phone so that proper requests could be made to the concerned government units for the analysis.

The camera will be submitted to the PNP 7 Crime Laboratory, while the cellular phone will be turned over to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to possibly determine the identity of the person who sent threatening messages to Benitez.

Comendador said he was grateful that the family finally decided to cooperate in the investigation. As of yesterday, though, Comendador said Benitez had not yet turned over the pieces of evidence to the Mabolo Police Station.

The Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the city police force headed by Supt. Pablo Labra II has also been tapped to assist the Mabolo Police Station in the investigation.

Rama, chairman of the PCAC, said that he did not order the investigation on the incident during the PCAC meeting.

“I just reminded them to document everything. It’s just reminding the Philippine National Police that the standard operating procedures should be observed,” said Rama.

He said that the family of Benitez did not ask for his help on the matter, and there is no need to do so because he trusts the police to do their job.

Benitez, who holds a US and Philippine citizenship, is the former girlfriend of Rama’s son.

“They have never approached me for help on this and they don’t have to approach me. Let’s give the PNP a chance to do what they have to do, and to be mindful of the due process requirement,” Rama added.

The acting mayor would not comment on whether or not it is necessary for Tomas to go on indefinite leave while the investigation is ongoing.

He said that he would wait to hear from Tomas himself.

Last Monday night, Tomas told Sun.Star Cebu that he would go on leave without pay upon his return tomorrow to avoid suspicions that he is using his position to protect his son.

The allegations against Miguel have resulted in a threat from the mayor that Miguel may exercise his right to file a libel case against his accusers. Benitez also said she may consider filing a case against Miguel for the threats she received.

Tomas said he will go on leave or may even resign so he can help Miguel through legal means.

Local opposition leader Jonathan Guardo doesn’t believe this, and said that the mayor’s health condition is the real reason behind the indefinite leave of absence.

“It’s purely on his health. Miguel is too flimsy a reason,” said Guardo.

He reiterated his challenge for the mayor to show his medical test results, even through the media, saying it is his duty to do so.

“It is for the public’s interest. Did he ever show any medical bulletin since? He’s been very evasive. He doesn’t have to be challenged, it is his duty... Running for office is a very strenuous and very stressful activity and I’m pretty sure no doctor in his right mind would advise his cancer patient to do so. Everybody thinks he’s not in the best of health,” Guardo continued.

Tomas recently completed his second medical checkup after last April’s surgery to remove his urinary bladder and prostate as part of the treatment for his stage IV bladder cancer.

He said that his doctors told him that he is still cancer-free. (LCR)