CEBU CITY – A policeman has filed a string of charges against outgoing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
The criminal and administrative cases filed Wednesday before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas stemmed from Osmeña’s confrontation with Police Patrolman Romel Gelogo outside the Cebu City Police Office headquarters past midnight of May 12.
The mayor was charged with usurpation of official function, carnapping, graft and corruption, robbery, slander, grave coercion, and direct assault.
Gelogo, an operative of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas, also charged Osmeña for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The confrontation happened when Osmeña went to the CCPO headquarters to check on four persons, including two Sangguniang Kabaataan officials, who were arrested for alleged vote-buying.
Osmeña was barred entry when he arrived at the police headquarters. While at the gate, Osmeña chanced upon Gelogo about to leave driving a motorcycle.
In his affidavit-complaint, Gelogo said at least 10 persons, including the mayor, blocked his path. Gelogo said he was told that he violated traffic laws since the motorcycle he was driving didn’t have a license plate.
He said the mayor asked him to present his driver’s license and the registration papers of the motorcycle. The policeman said he reasoned out that he would only present his license if the mayor can show proof that he was authorized to apprehend him and seize the motorcycle.
Gelogo said he was forced to leave the motorcycle behind and returned to his office after the mayor “humiliated” and “intimated” him.
The motorcycle was eventually impounded by the City Traffic Operations Management.
The policeman alleged that his Tag Heuer wristwatch worth P150,000 was left in the “u-box” of the motorcycle. The policeman said the expensive watch was given to him by his cousin working abroad. (Calvin D. Cordova)
