‘I am not a drug protector, I do not know who Jaguar is’ – Rama

Former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama denies accusations that he is a drug protector and that he received drug money from Jaguar during a press conference he called on Sunday morning at the Rama Ancestral House in Basak San Nicolas. (CDN PHOTO/JOSE SANTINO S. BUNACHITA)

Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has again denied allegations that he had connections and was protecting slain top drug personality Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz during his time as mayor.

In a press conference he called at the Rama Ancestral House in Barangay Basak San Nicolas on Sunday morning, Rama said the accusations hurled at him have gone “below the belt.”

“I want to make this clear. I am not a drug lord protector. I do not know who Jaguar is. I never received drug money in my 20 years of public service. That’s why I’m a little bit appalled because accusations in that level is highly reprehensible, absurd, incredulous and even highly preposterous,” he said.

It was his nemesis, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who said in his press conference at the city hall last week that he received info about Rama receiving P10 million from Jaguar. But even so, the mayor said Rama wanted P20 million, which allegedy soured their relationship.

Rama, in his press conference, also said that even if he believes that Osmeña’s statement is a “blatant lie,” he is still willing to undergo a lie detector test with the mayor.

Sought for comment, Osmeña welcomed Rama’s acceptance of his challenge of a lie detector test.

He said the challenge will be witnessed by the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States which he has been negotiating with.

“Okay, good. Ato ipa-lie detector test so he can vindicate himself because one of his contentions is that he’s not guilty. So why are you hiding?” Osmeña said in a phone interview.