Alcover: Why did Jaguar offer money to Osmeña?

WERE Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and slain suspected drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz good friends such that the latter would offer Osmeña money to fuel his campaign?

This is the question Councilor Pastor Alcover wants the mayor to answer, as he also demanded an explanation from him on his seeming connection to Jaguar.

“Unsa may hinungdan nga gitanyagan man siya ni Alyas Jaguar? Dili ba kaha tungod kay suod nga higala si Jaguar ug Mayor Tommy Osmeña? (What was the reason why he was offered money by Jaguar? Is it because they are close friends?)” Alcover said in a privilege speech before the Cebu City Council yesterday.

Alcover said he believes one does not easily offer money to another if they don’t have close ties.

He questioned why the mayor revealed the offer of money by Jaguar only after he won the election and after Jaguar’s death.

Alcover said that during the campaign period, Osmeña had always accused then mayor Michael Rama as the one who had links to drug lords.

The councilor also expressed his suspicions that there is a questionable link among former Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 acting director Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) acting chief, Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos and retired General Marcelo Garbo to Osmeña.

He questioned why the mayor was so against the relief of Comendador and was worried over the possible relief of Santos.

“Unsa may hikot nga nagsumpay ni Garbo, Comendador, Santos ug Mayor Osmeña nga misupak ug namalikas pa g’yud siya sa pag-ingon ‘bogo’ ang presidente? (What is the rope that connects Garbo, Comendador, Santos and Mayor Osmeña that made him protest the relief and even cursed the president and called him stupid?)” Alcover said.

But Councilor Sisinio Andales, who is allied with Osmeña, said these questions are irrelevant because Jaguar is dead.

“Usa sa pangutana unsay hinungdan ngano si Jaguar ni-offer, unsaon pagtubag unsay hinungdan nga patay na si Jaguar? Maglisod na og explain. If si Mayor Osmeña patubagon, dili katubag unsay hinungdan (One of your questions about the reason for Jaguar’s offer of money, how can this be answered considering that Jaguar is dead? Mayor Osmeña cannot answer Jaguar’s reasons),” Andales said.

Alcover asked the council to pass a resolution asking Osmeña to explain his alleged relationship with the slain drug lord.

He also asked that copies of his privilege speech be furnished to the Office of the President and to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).