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Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Is Cummings a decoy?
CEBU Gov. Pablo Garcia warned authorities yesterday that the Mike Cummings who has come out to claim the shipment of a shabu ingredient could be a “decoy” meant to divert attention from the real owners.
“This could be another Milagros Herrera caper,” said the governor during his news conference.
He was referring to the president of Perdido Lex Foundation Inc., whose identity is now no longer certain after the nongovernment organization failed to account for P5 million from the discretionary funds of Vice Gov. John Gregory “John-john” Osmeña.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday urged the vice governor, a nephew, to clear himself of the allegations, as he warned of its effects on his senator-father’s candidacy and on the Arroyo administration.
“This is a very heavy blow on his (John-John’s) political career, but this goes beyond politics. He’d better clear himself because politics is only secondary. Never mind the political aspect because even to his relations, he has to clear himself,” the mayor said.
He advised his nephew to cooperate in the investigation on the seized 1,700 kilos of pseudoephedrine.
Although used for legitimate medications against asthma, trading of the chemical is controlled because it can also be used to create shabu.
2 more names
After the Perdido Lex controversy, the shipment is giving political rivals more ammunition against the vice governor, who is making his first attempt to be elected governor of Cebu.
The governor said the emergence of two more names linked to both Perdido Lex and John-john will now make it more difficult for the vice governor to wash his hands of the importation of pseudoephedrine.
Dirk D’ Hulst, who has been named as the one who paid for the rent of the warehouse of Coastside Ventures Inc. in Mandaue City, has been John-john’s “close companion” for years now.
D’ Hulst, who reportedly has a degree in chemistry, not only shares a house with John-john, but also used to be a business partner, Governor Garcia related yesterday.
Another name linked to John-john is not only apparently a staff member, but also worked for Senator Osmeña for years.
According to the personal data sheet of Joebert Cuesta, who was named president in a certification issued to Coastside Ventures, he served as a contractual employee of the Senate from 1989-1994 when Sonny was a senator.
From 1995-1998, he was a legal researcher in Congress when Sonny represented Cebu’s third district in the Lower House.
‘Matud nila’
When John-john was elected to the Provincial Board (PB) in 1998, Cuesta served as private secretary to younger Osmeña until 2001.
Cuesta also figured in the Perdido Lex controversy when he accompanied Willy Mulla, chief of John-john’s office staff, to Barili to present the foundation’s computerization program to the municipal council.
“I don’t want to rejoice or gloat over the political misfortunes of others but in other countries, politicians would resign. But we are in the Philippines… only in the Philippines,” the governor told reporters with a laugh.
His daughter Gwendolyn Garcia, who is running for governor, mentioned in a speech yesterday that a politician is being linked to the controversial shipment.
But asked whether she was referring to Vice Governor Osmeña, Garcia just replied, “Matod nila (That’s what they said).”
“It’s all in the newspapers. The Cebuanos know the truth. I don’t want to comment on the issue so it will not be politicized. Just let the proper authorities find out the truth so the persons responsible will be brought to justice,” she told reporters.
Gwendolyn and Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano spoke yesterday before teachers who were deputized as members of the Provincial Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Task Force.
Ouano told reporters that he will revive his executive order authorizing random checkpoints for container vans that enter Mandaue City.
The warehouse where the chemicals were supposed to be delivered is in Mandaue City.
That permit
John-john declined to be interviewed but promised to call a press conference in the next few days.
Earlier, the vice governor admitted that he currently has a staff member named Joebert Cuesta, but this does not necessarily mean this is the same person listed in the PDEA documents on Coastside.
Mayor Osmeña also expressed disbelief on how a permit was issued to allow the importation of such a large volume of pseudoephedrine.
“If such a permit was given, I think that’s a black mark on the administration. The President should kick out and chop into pieces whoever issued the permit because she herself might be affected by this,” he said.
The mayor told a news conference yesterday that he does not believe John-John can import P3.4 billion worth of ingredients for an illegal drug.
“Personally, I do not think John-John has the capability to import pseudoephedrine, but maybe the people around him have,” the mayor said.
Mayor Osmeña is also worried that his offer of P100,000 cash incentive to the Bureau of Customs task force that intercepted the cargo would be misconstrued as trying to silence its members. KMF/LCR/AAG
(March 24, 2004 issue)
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