Cebu mayor got P7 million from slain drug lord: witness

March 27, 2018

A self-confessed bagman and cousin of a slain drug lord claimed Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña received millions in payola, an affidavit said. In his affidavit executed in Nov. 2016 but revealed by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday, Reynaldo Diaz, cousin of slain drug lord Jeffrey Diaz, said the mayor received at least P7 million from the drug lord. Jeffrey Diaz, also known as Jaguar, was killed in a police operation in Las Pinas in June 2016. "Mayor Tomas Osmeña received payola from Jaguar the amount of P2 million for hospitalization expenses in 2013 and P5 million during the 2016 elections," Aguirre said, quoting from the witness' affidavit. "The others listed in the payola are Gen. Vicente Loot and four other police officers," Aguirre disclosed. Aguirre said he authorized the release of the statement of the witness upon request of the Task Force Commander Against Illegal Drugs of the National Bureau of Investigation. Aguirre called on "individuals possessing additional knowledge or information to come forward and corroborate the (statement)." Once the case buildup concludes, the NBI would file charges against Osmeña, Aguirre said.DMS