Mayor says mudslinging against Team Rama ‘sick’

The  election campaign period is still nine months away but the mudslinging has started.

Mayor Michael Rama branded as a product of a “sick mind” posters that spread in some north district barangays spoofing his Team Rama.

And obviously, the mayor is amused. “This is not a product of a well meaning person but (instead) coming from a sick mind,” he said.

The posters read: “TEAM RAMA (Rejects Are My Allies). It’s show time…”

Posters which are made of  newsprints have been posted on walls and fences along Governor Cuenco Avenue in Banilad since last week.

Rama admitted that he already saw some of these posters and he wanted these and other unauthorized posters and tarpaulins promoting the political stock of certain politicians removed.

He said that even the streamers bearing the name of his grandfather Don Vicente Rama which were hanged especially along Osmeña Boulevard when the city had its 75th Charter Day anniversary in February have been ordered removed.

The mayor yesterday asked his chief of staff, Philip Zafra, to collate data and report to him how many unauthorized streamers and posters they have removed so far.

Rama gave an order for the massive removal of unauthorized streamers and poster early this month as part of his campaign to clean city streets.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña, head of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) have earlier denied any hand in the hanging of type “O” tarpaulins and other BOPK tarpaulins or posters.

He said that this could have been made by people who support their group and who already wanted Rama replaced.

Meanwhile, Rama hit back at BOPK councilors for proposing and ordinance that seeks to protect the 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP) from unlawful and unauthorized transactions.

The draft ordinance by councilor Noel Wenceslao requires council authority priority to any transactions involving the SRP.

“That (draft ordinance) is not anymore necessary/legally required because there s already in the Local Government Code.

They sometimes go out of bounds as a legislative body in their haste to have me replaced, laments the mayor.

As a lawyer and a member of the city council for 18 years, “I am very much aware that the chief executive has to seek council authority for SRP lot disposal otherwise I may be charged before the Ombudsman. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters