Tomas: Where’s proof of donation of Dodge cars?

UNDER fire for keeping two American-made sedans given by a wealthy businessman, Rep. Tomas Osmena yesterday dared Mayor Michael Rama to show proof the two Dodge Chargers parked at home were donated to the Cebu City goverrnment.

Osmeña, in a press conference,  challenged the mayor to file a complaint against him and his sister Minnie, whom he said  bought the vehicles with her son Paolo after  Bigfoot  Entertainment owner Michael Gleissner lost interest in donating them to the city.

The black-and-white vehicles, marked  like police patrol cars, still bear the seal of Cebu City.

Osmeña said there was nothing wrong with that since the  seal is also being printed in T-shirts distributed during the Sinulog festivity

The bigger issue, Osmeña said, is Mayor Rama’s use of a a vanity plate marked “Mayor” on his Toyota Grandia van without the words “For official use” on the vehicle.

“Which is the greater violation?,” the congressman asked.

Earlier, the Land Transportation Office said vanity plates which bear the position “mayor” or “governor” could be placed in front of or at the back of the vehicle , as long as the original license plate is also used and is not covered.

Meanwhile, Osmeña hit back by questioning Mayor Rama’s trip to China, alleging  that some  Chinese businessmen were  complaining about  solicitations by the mayor to sponsor the  five-day visit.

He offered no names, however,  or other proof about it.

“Somebody told me that Chinese businessmen are already complaining because every month they are asked (by the mayor’s office) for something, said  Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.

Rama mentioned last Tuesday that Fil-Chinese business friends paid for the air fare of his delegation while the host government of Xiamen took care of  accommodation and meals.

Osmeña criticized the mayor for imitating former mayor Alvin Garcia in giving perks to barangay captains.  He said while Rama was  generous to his allies, he also deprived barangay officials affiliated with  Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK)  who supported him in 2010. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles and Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac