Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña strips office of fixtures as he leaves post

Outgoing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña had the tiles, ceiling, and other office furniture in his office removal before turning it over to Mayor-Elect Edgardo Labella. INQUIRER VISAYAS PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

CEBU CITY –– Outgoing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña literally took the entire mayor’s office with him as his term ends on June 30.

On Friday, employees and visitors at the mayor’s office were surprised upon seeing the bare rooms at the 8th Floor of the executive building.

The glass dividers were gone along with the ceiling and some ceramic tiles. The kitchen tiles were also gone.

The washroom was left with raw concrete as all of the tiles have also been taken out.

The Mayor’s Executive Assistant Bimbo Fernandez said the mayor owned the fixtures and furniture inside the Mayor’s Office.

In 2016, Osmeña was not given a budget by the predominantly opposition city council, said Fernandez.

The mayor renovated his office using his personal funds, he added.

He said the mayor had asked for P2 million for office renovation but the City Council turned the request down.

The camp of Mayor-Elect Edgar Labella was thinking of filing a case against Osmeña and his staff members for the alleged destruction of the Mayor’s Office.

Osmena and most of his staff members were not at the City Hall.

Policemen with long firearms were immediately sent to the mayor’s office. It was unclear what the purpose of their presence was as not one of them was authorized to speak. (Editor: Leti Boniol)