Ex-Cebu allies’ war escalates

CEBU CITY—The war between erstwhile political buddies Mayor Michael Rama and Rep. Tomas Osmeña continues to escalate following a decision by the council, dominated by Osmeña’s allies, to override a veto by Rama of portions of the city’s 2012 budget that slashed by more than half the amount that Rama was asking for.

Rama had sought a budget of P11.8 billion but the city council approved a budget of only P5.2 billion, saying the city had no means to finance the allocation that Rama wanted.

Rama retaliated and exercised his veto power over the council decision.

The council, for the first time in the city’s history, convened in a special session to override Rama’s veto.

Seventeen of the council’s 18 members are allies of Osmeña, who is Rama’s predecessor. Only one is not, the mayor’s nephew Edu Rama.

Councilors defended the decision to override the veto. “Overriding the mayor’s veto means that we are confirming what we have passed,” said Councilor Jose Daluz III.

Daluz said the override was final and the budget “is now operative.”

The council, he said, would submit the override resolution and Rama’s veto to the Department of Budget and Management for review.