After water bottles labeled ‘Type O’ were seen being distributed in Easter Sunday’s “Sugat sa Guadalupe”, they were disowned by Rep. Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña as unauthorized goods.
But reelectionist Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the denial was no different from the “lies” made by Osmeña about his possession of Dodge vehicles donated by an American investor. “Dili na lang ko mo storya ug violation ba na or dili. Ang mga tawo na lang ang mag ingon nila. Sa una ila ang ‘Type O’ karon dili na. Di bakakon,” he said. (I’ll not comment anymore whether or not it’s a campaign rule violation. I’ll just let the people say what it was. Before they were claiming ownership of the ‘Type O’ brand and now they’re saying that it’s not theirs. It’s a lie.) Rama said he doesn’t even have to show proof because the water jugs were being distributed in public and seen by many.
Based on the label, the bottled water was manufactured by Voda Fresh Purified Drinking Water with business address of Corner C. Padilla St. and Tres de Abril St., Cebu City.
Osmeña said he immediately ordered a stop to the distribution when he saw the Type O water bottles while he was attending Easter Mass last Sunday.
Osmeña said said a businessman-friend is already applying to use “Type O” as a commercial trademark with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) so he can use the name beyond the May 2013 election.
Osmeña refused to identify his friend.
“The owner (of the label) can sue. It’s up to the owner, not me,” he said.
“Somebody can’t just come in and claim it.”
Osmeña said he borrowed the “Type O” logo for the use of his party, Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
The mayoralty candidate said that a manufacturer came to him about two weeks ago and offered to supply bottled water and give out samples. Osmeña said it was not the first time a manufacturer came to him with an offer but that he “did not pay attention” because of his friend’s application to exclusively use “Type O” as a business trademark. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters