Wednesday, April 04, 2007 Ex-senator’s son, 10 others told to answer drug raps
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena compelling the son of Genuine Opposition (GO) senatorial candidate John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña to appear during the preliminary investigation in Cebu to answer drug charges filed against him and 10 others.
Senior State Prosecutor Archimedes Manabat, head of the DOJ investigating panel, warned John Gregory “John-john” Osmeña, former Cebu vice governor, and his co-accused that failure to appear in the preliminary investigation will be considered as waiver to present their counter-evidence.
The preliminary investigation will be held on April 19 at the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor in Cebu City.
John-john, three of his former staff and seven others were charged before the DOJ for violationof Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act in connection with the alleged smuggling of P3.6 billion worth of pseudoephedrine, a shabu ingredient, three years ago.
The elder Osmeña earlier claimed Malacañang had a hand in the filing of the complaint to embarrass him since he is running for senator under the opposition slate.
John-john was reportedly going to run for Congress in Cebu’s first district. But after the case was filed, Sonny has said his son was advised by his (John-john’s) mother against returning to Cebu from the US. Sonny’s siblings, former governor Lito Osmeña and Annette Osmeña-Aboitiz, also told John-john not to run for public office. (Sunnex)
