Oliva says Rama offered city treasurer’s position

WAS there an offer for him to assume his mother’s former post?

According to Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva, there was one from Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama but he turned it down.

The son of former Cebu City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said he can’t live with the volatile political climate in Cebu City Hall.

Oliva told Cebu Daily News that there was a recommendation for him to transfer to Cebu City from the Bureau of Local Government and Finance (BLGF) and it was entertained by Rama.

“It’s not exactly worded as an offer but I don’t know, Rama just asked me, ‘Sa man (What about it)?,” Oliva said.

The Mandaue City treasurer said Rama raised this point during a conversation with him.

Oliva said the mayor didn’t talk much about the BLGF recommendation since he liked his mother more to work for him as head of the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office.

“I declined the offer because of pressure and political backlash. I don’t want to work in a kind of environment where I’m like caught between the scissors and too much pressure might cut me off,” he said.

Still, the younger Oliva said he will still agree if his mother is transferred to Mandaue City because it will help raise revenues for Mandaue City.

He said he plans to be assigned in the City Assessors Office while his mother replaces him as City Treasurer.

Cebu City Public Relations Officer Carlo Dugaduga told Cebu Daily News in an interview said he is not privy about Rama’s offer to Regal to become Cebu City treasurer.

He said Rama is focused on getting President Benigno Aquino III to decide on his request to retain the elder Oliva.

Cebu Daily News tried to contact Rama through his mobile phone but he could not be reached. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos