CEBU City Vice Mayor Michael Rama yesterday made good his threat to file a criminal complaint for libel against a council candidate who accused him of protecting drug pushers.
Rama lodged the complaint at the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office against James Philip Tiongko.
Tiongko, who is also executive director of Krusada Batok sa Droga, led 17 of its members in a recent protest against Rama, who they said has protected a drug lord.
In a press conference, Tiongko and members of the foundation also declared Rama "public enemy number one." He has admitted the group lacked evidence to bring the matter to court. He instead cited news reports quoting Mayor Tomas Osmeña's statements against Rama, about an incident when the vice mayor allegedly attempted to stop a raid against a suspected drug lord in 2008.
Tiongko reiterated the group was quoting newspaper reports online about the mayor's comments on his political ally. (The mayor has since clarified he did not accuse Rama of protecting any drug lord, but that the vice mayor may have made a poor judgment call in questioning that raid.)
Rama said the statements Tionko issued were "calculated falsehoods" that damaged not only his reputation as a public official, but also that of the anti-drug council he chairs.
Rama, who is also chairman of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, described Tionko's accusations as the worst attack he has received in his political career.
"The statements not only damaged the reputation of the undersigned, but also the entire Rama clan who are well-known in local politics," said Rama.
Rama's staff said they are still collating additional evidence before filing a separate libel complaint against former senator and now mayoral candidate John Henry "Sonny" Osmeña.
"It has been too much of a foul that needs to be resolved and the court will once and for all resolve who really are the real drug protectors, who really are drug users, who really are drug suppliers. Why should it be me?" said Rama.
He added: "In politics, even if there's a campaign period, you cannot just go beyond… because that's already bringing the entire campaign period as a means of destroying (someone)."