Kidnap raps filed vs acting Cebu City mayor, 7 others

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Kidnapping charges were filed against acting Cebu City Mayor Margot Osmeña and seven others by Labangon barangay (village) councilman Rodolfo Tabasa at the Ombudsman-Visayas on Tuesday afternoon.

In his complaint, Tabasa also accused Osmeña, Government Services Office (GSO) chief Ronald Malacora, GSO personnel Kenneth Amar and Rafael Cabunilas and four still unidentified policemen of serious illegal detention, unlawful arrest and grave coercion.

READ: CARNAPPING VS. KIDNAPPING

Tabasa was arrested in his home in the evening of June 10 and stayed overnight at the Cebu City Police Office cell.

Amar and Cabunilas were accompanied by four policemen when they visited Tabasa’s home at 9 p.m. and enforced a “citizens arrest” due to his refusal to return his city government-issued Toyota Hilux.

READ: Cebu City village councilman nabbed for carnapping complaint

Osmeña ordered the return of all city-issued vehicles for inventory after she assumed as acting mayor.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Tabasa visited the Ombudsman in Cebu City with his wife Mierna and his lawyers Ernest Rama and Cebu City Councilor-elect Jocelyn Pesquera to file his complaint against Osmeña and the others. RAM