Rama insists he is ‘real’ mayor of Cebu City

LEADERS Former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama joins Mayor Raymond Garcia during the flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall on Monday. —Contributed photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — This city found itself with two chief executives on Monday after dismissed mayor Michael Rama reported for work at the City Hall, close to seven months since he was forced to step down.

Wearing a light green polo shirt embroidered with Cebu City logo and the word “mayor” in front, Rama went to the different offices as early as 5 a.m. and greeted the employees.

At 7 a.m., he joined the flag-raising ceremony, standing side by side with now Mayor Raymond Garcia, a former ally and his runningmate, who replaced him upon his dismissal from service.

READ: Garcia says Rama can enter Cebu City Hall as private citizen

In his speech during the ceremony, Garcia acknowledged Rama as the “former mayor,” which irked the latter.

Rama, who was meted a six-month suspension in May by the Office of the Ombudsman for failure to pay the salaries of four employees and was ordered dismissed in October for nepotism for appointing his two brothers-in-law to city posts, insisted he was still mayor as he had not received the ruling from the anti-graft body.

He said he had to report for work lest he would be charged with abandonment of duty.

Clamped

“I’m back. I am the elected mayor. I went inside (City Hall) as early as 5 a.m. I went upstairs and entered the offices. I was happy to see that my pictures are still there,” Rama told reporters at the Magellan’s Cross, located just across the City Hall.

Rama, however, did not stay long and left the building at 9:20 a.m. to have breakfast, he explained. But he did not come back.

Rama left on board his son’s car after his private vehicle was clamped by personnel of the Cebu City Transportation Office for using the mayor’s parking space.

Garcia, who was installed city mayor by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in October, said he had no issues with Rama’s presence at City Hall.

“As I have always said, City Hall is a public place, and anyone can come as long as they do not disrupt operations. They are free to come,” he said.

Garcia, however, emphasized that action would be taken had City Hall’s operations been disrupted.

Rama arrived at the City Hall in the company of his lawyer-son Mikel Rama, and 50 supporters. But it was business as usual on Monday at the seat of the city government.

Also present was lawyer Collin Rosell, Rama’s city administrator, who was arrested by policemen on Nov. 8 for usurpation of authority after he tried to take over the city government by issuing a memorandum that he was again the city administrator and refusing to leave the building by 5 p.m. Rosell was released after he posted bail.

Out of respect

Garcia explained that acknowledging Rama during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony was a gesture of respect.

“Former Mayor Mike Rama has contributed to our city which we have to acknowledge. He has indeed served as mayor of Cebu City,” Garcia said.

Garcia earlier said he would not step down unless ordered to do so by either the Office of the Ombudsman, the DILG or the courts.

Mikel Rama, one of his father’s legal counsels, said his father’s return to City Hall was “right and just.”

Mikel said that on Nov. 11, they sent letters to all relevant offices, including the Cebu City Council, the DILG and the Office of the Ombudsman, notifying them that Rama’s preventive suspension had lapsed and he was assuming his position “by operation of law.”

“Now that he is physically present, he is officially reporting to work,” Mikel said.