CEBU CITY- “Telling the truth would kill you,” thus said Isabelo “Rico” OsmeΓ±a, 63, the Cebu based journalist who was ambushed last December 16, 2021 while he was commuting a modern jeep on his way home after his block time radio commentary program over DyLA here.
OsmeΓ±a was asked to spoke yesterday on his ordeal, August 30, during the “Harassing, Killing Journalists (How media security from government works)” forum organized by the Cebu Citizens Press Council (CCPC), Cebu Media Legal Aid (CEMLA) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) in observance of the National Press Freedom Day at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center in Lahug.
With PPI Executive Director Ariel Sebelleno and Regional Public Attorney Maria G-Ree Calinawan as panelists, OsmeΓ±a revealed the “mastermind” of his ambush that nearly cost his life.
According to OsmeΓ±a, the mastermind is moneyed and is well connected, whom he claimed has got his ire after his expose of alleged carrots smuggling in Cebu in his block time program and in the Daily Tribune, a national paper where he also writes (apart from OsmeΓ±a’s expose, The Freeman also reported last September 2021 of alleged carrots smuggling that were allegedly sold in the Carbon market. Then Port of Cebu District Collector of Customs Charlito Mendoza acted on the complaint of “Cordillera” farmers who wrote to former Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.)
“Benguet farmers, they were complaining that their carrots for Cebu is not being sold anymore because there are smuggled carrots from China, so that’s one thing I exposed,” OsmeΓ±a revealed, adding, “The mastermind actually of my case is now a booming businessman here, he got involved in STL, you know that’s Small Town Lottery…smuggling, then kining mga online gambling, e-sabong these are all the involvement of the mastermind.”
OsmeΓ±a refused to name the mastermind though during the forum but told this writer on who the person is, albeit off the record, and so unless OsmeΓ±a will personally name him publicly, that’s the time that the name will also be publicly known. OsmeΓ±a described the mastermind as a “known supporter” of a former President.
OsmeΓ±a lamented that because of the wealth and influence of the mastermind, the investigation of his case is not progressing which he said is now being handled by the PNP CIDG after the disbandment of the Task Force OsmeΓ±a in August 2021 created by the Police Regional Office (PRO 7).
“Unfortunately because of his network and his money, the investigation of my case is now very dead,” OsmeΓ±a further claimed.
While the police investigation halted, OsmeΓ±a also unveiled a very shocking revelation, alleging that journalists who were supposed witnesses of his case backed out because they were paid by the mastermind.
“It was also unfortunate, some of our journalist were paid by the mastermind to keep silent. There were some journalist who were supposed to be my witness pero nihilom,” OsmeΓ±a said.
After the incident, OsmeΓ±a is still wearing an arm sling these days as the bullet that hit him is still embedded in his body affecting his nerves and clavicle area, including his left lung which he described as “weak.”
While he lamented on the nonchalance of the supposed witnesses, OsmeΓ±a extended his gratitude though to the National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP) and individual journalist in Cebu, particularly Atty. Pachico Seares, one of the pillars of Cebu media who was also present during the forum, alongside Marit Stinus Cabugon of ManilaTimes for their support of his cause.
Atty. Ian Vincent Manticajon of CEMLA served as the forum moderator while Jose Torres, Jr., the Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoms) sent a video message in lieu of his physical presence because of some pressing matters in Manila.
Asked on what lies ahead of him, OsmeΓ±a said he will continue on his advocacy, drawing inspiration from a lot who knew him, including some priests.
“Ingon gani ang mga doktor even ang mga pari nga amigo nako when I was ambushed, they told me Rico gibuhi pa ka sa Ginoo because naa pa kay misyon. Wala pa tingali mahuman ang imong misyon.”/CCO
(Radio commentator Rico OsmeΓ±a spoke during the media forum yesterday where he revealed the alleged “mastermind” of his ambush that almost cost his life in December 2021. Sitting at his back is PPI Executive Director Ariel Sebelleno.)
( A screenshot of the article of Rico OsmeΓ±a in the Daily Tribune)
