A complaint seeking Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s suspension will be filed this week by his predecessor, former mayor and now Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.
“I will ask for his suspension from the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) for grave abuse of authority,” the congressman said in yesterday’s press conference at his Guadalupe home.
Osmeña said Rama erred when he filed a petition for declaratory relief against Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima without authority from the City Council, which is dominated by his Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) party mates.
The congressman said he already directed his lawyers to draft a complaint against Rama.
Osmeña said he also talked with national officials to replace City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva but declined to elaborate.
Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said in a separate interview that he will discuss with the council in today’s session the need to file a motion for intervention in Purisima’s case which is pending before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.
Young said the motion will inform the court of Rama’s lack of council authority in filing his petition.
Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Douglas Marigomen issued a 20-day temporary restraining order or TRO allowing Oliva to remain in her post.
Oliva will remain as city treasurer while the petition for declaratory relief against Purisima is being heard.
Rama said he didn’t need a council resolution to file the petition.
The mayor said the council’s opposition to his petition against Purisima was expected because he has an “unfriendly” council.
But Osmeña said Rama overstepped his functions when he filed the petition without council support.
This week’s complaint is the second Osmeña filed against Rama after he earlier accused the mayor of allegedly “bullying” the council during last year’s budget deliberations.
The complaint of grave abuse of authority which he filed against Rama on November 2011 remains pending with the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Osmeña said he filed the complaint before the DILG hoping for an immediate resolution.
“The Ombudsman is too slow. Maybe DILG is also slow but there is hope,” he said.
Osmeña said he doesn’t discount the possibility that Rama will accuse him of being politically motivated for seeking his suspension.
“But what do you think he (Rama) is also doing? But what I’m doing is good politics. I am filing a case against him. I am not mudslinging,” he said.