CEBU CITY, Philippines – After his lawyers announced last Friday, November 8, that Michael Rama was back as Cebu City mayor, he was a no-show at a tightly-guarded city hall despite hints he would make his appearance during the flag ceremony on Monday, November 11.
Instead, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced the release of bonuses in an abbreviated flag ceremony that has been his hallmark, in contrast to the longer proceedings and speech under Rama.
“It’s business as usual. Please come to city hall and conduct your business,” Garcia said in a press conference after the flag ceremony this morning. He told city hall employees to “please focus on your job.”
Lawyer Mikel Francisco Rama, Michael’s son and newly-designated spokesperson, however told Rappler they have sent official notices to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Cebu City Council, and the Cebu City Human Resources Department that the six-month suspension on Rama has lapsed and he was reassuming his post.
“Tuloy ang laban (Our fight continues),” said Mikel, adding that his father will hold a press conference soon.
At the city hall, the Cebu City mayor’s office was locked and police officers were clearly visible in the area. It’s a crime scene, said Garcia.
Last Friday, lawyer Collin Rosell was arrested and detained while he was inside the mayor’s office. Cebu City police chief Antonietto Cañete, who is a lawyer, led the arrest. Cañete said the warrantless arrest for usurpation of authority was valid because of the complaints by city officials and the fact that Rosell signed a memorandum as city administrator.
Rosell will file charges against those involved in his arrest, Mikel told Rappler. He said the warrantless arrest wasn’t valid because the usurpation charge involved a legal question that the police wasn’t in authority to resolve. Rosell was released on bail last Saturday, November 9.
Last Friday, Rama’s lawyers held a press conference inside Cebu City Hall to announce that he was back as mayor.
Rosell also told the media he was back as Cebu City administrator, along with the other officials suspended with him and Rama. While Rama was reported to have been dismissed and permanently disqualified from public office by the Ombudsman for nepotism, his camp said no such ruling and order was served on him. – Rappler.com
Max Limpag, a freelance journalist from Cebu, is a 2024 Aries Rufo Journalism fellow.