CEBU City Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña admitted in an interview yesterday that slain suspected drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz tried to offer him money as support for his mayoral bid in the last two elections.
Osmeña was asked by reporters before his oathtaking if it’s true that the slain number one drug lord in Cebu City, Diaz, supported BO-PK, and he said that it’s true.
“Ang akong tubag niana, tinuod gyud. It doesn’t matter. Kana si Jaguar … usa ra ang ilang ginoo, kwarta,” he clarified during his speech at his oathtaking ceremony yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Osmeña said in the earlier interview that he didn’t meet Jaguar. He (Jaguar) allegedly sent somebody to make the offer.
“Because somebody tried to get more money from him and did not like it. So they offered. And there was a raid on his place and found shabu and everything. And the next day, (he) sent word to me, send me money. I said I’m so sorry. I’m not like that,” he said.
He also said that he didn’t know how much money was offered but it was in a “maleta.”
When asked about Jaguar’s statement in radio interview before he was killed in Las Piñas that he was going to reveal those who were linked to him including politicians, Osmeña said he was not the mayor in the past five years.
“All the barangay officials of his barangays are identified with Mike Rama. Now, who is protecting whom? The mayor was Mike Rama, all barangay captains are for Mike Rama. Even the police chief was selected by Mike Rama,” said Osmeña.
“Now, who was the mayor for the past five years? Who was barangay captain for the past five years? That guy. How can I possibly protect him (Jaguar)?” Osmeña said.
Rama in earlier interviews, however, strongly denied links to any drug lord.
Drug seminar in Duljo
Meanwhile, Supt. Henry Biñas, head of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Branch, called on all policemen to do their jobs to eradicate illegal drugs.
“We should not be afraid of any threats; otherwise, we should not have decided to choose this job,” Biñas said.
He said he understood the sentiments of people who joined the funeral procession of Jaguar last Monday, but he said they were just misled.
“Jaguar used to provide for their needs in (Barangay) Duljo. And if man doesn’t have money, they will surely cling to the one who helped them,” he said.
Biñas said the PRO 7 will soon conduct an anti-illegal drug seminar in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City to educate people about the ill-effects of drugs.
“Even if they have received help from Jaguar, that would not erase the fact that the money came from illegal activities,” he said.
Biñas said they expected someone, particularly from Jaguar’s clan or a trusted friend, to take over the position of the slain drug personality.
“We request whoever will succeed Jaguar to stop the proliferation of drugs,” he said.