Rallos claims ‘unfounded’ say Cebu City Hall

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama is seeking the dismissal of the indirect contempt and violation of the subjudice rule charges filed by one of the heirs of Rev. Fr. Vicente Rallos.

In its pleading, the mayor claimed that the allegations of Lucina Rallos are “unfounded and misplaced.”

Also included in the petition as respondents were Cebu Daily News publisher Eileen Mangubat and chief of reporters Doris Bongcac.

The petition stemmed from Rama’s remark quoted in CDN’s July 13, 2011 article stating that City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva was looking into the history of the  Rallos  lot and that it “appears that the property had unpaid tax obligations.”

In the article, Rama also said he didn’t know the location of the  Rallos  lot and that he cannot pay something that he has not seen.

Lucina said the mayor’s statement was improper conduct tending to “impede, obstruct or degrade the administration of justice.”

In his motion to dismiss, Rama said the case filed by Lucina is based on a “hearsay evidence.”

“Newspaper accounts are hearsay, whether objected to or not, having no evidentiary or probative value,” the mayor explained.

Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras of Branch 10 has yet to rule on Rama’s pleading. /ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL