Thursday, September 20, 2007 Liu to get help from City Hall
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday assured congressional witness Bernard Liu of his help.
“Yes, we will provide security, why not? I will take care of him, that’s all I can say,” the mayor told a news conference yesterday.
When asked in what way he will help, the mayor replied: “By not talking about it. When I do what I do, you will know but when we want to secure someone, don’t tell them how he is going to be secured,” he said.
Osmeña said arrangements will have to be confidential so as not to expose Liu to more risks.
Suspicious-looking motorcycle-riding men were seen near PDEA’s headquarters on R. Landon St., Cebu City after Liu was released from jail last week, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal said early this week.
During his news conference, Osmeña criticized Elias Espinoza, lawyer for brothers Peter and Wellington Lim, for questioning the financial assistance Rep. Antonio Cuenco is proposing to give Liu.
Liu and Ananias Dy, who was killed in July last year, had testified at a congressional hearing in August 2002 that the Lim brothers were allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade.
However, no charges for drugs were brought up against the Lims in court. The businessmen have also denied any drug links.
“In defense of Tony Cuenco, let me just ask Attorney Elias Espinoza: How much are you being paid by the Lim brothers? Is it appropriate that he be paid? How much is he getting?” the mayor said.
Osmeña’s comments came a day after Cuenco said he was declaring “war” against Espinoza and all lawyers defending the Lim brothers.
But Espinoza said yesterday he will no longer comment on the issue to put an end to the “war” declared by Cuenco (Cebu Ciyt, south).
“Let the public judge whatever they say. Midako ni tungod sa hatod-hatod og istorya. I don’t want to go to their level because I am not a politician,” Espinoza told Sun.Star Cebu.
But a lawyer, who asked not be named, described Cuenco’s actions as “grandstanding.” The lawyer said Espinoza and the other counsels of the Lim brothers are silent on the issue because they do not want to dignify Cuenco’s “childish” acts.
Cuenco issued the challenge after Espinoza questioned his proposal to the House committee on dangerous drugs to give Liu a monthly allowance.
Cuenco said the committee has a witness protection program where witnesses can avail themselves of allowances.
Liu was charged with importation of illegal drugs after he had testified that he had carried 40 kilos of shabu from Hong Kong to Cebu allegedly for the Lim brothers.
The case was dismissed after Regional Trial Court Judge Fortunato de Gracia granted his demurrer to evidence, a pleading for the court to dismiss the case for lack of proof. (LCR/KNT)
