BOPK files cases, against Rama, City Hall employees

The Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan has filed cases against Mayor Michael Rama and several City Hall staffers for a radio program hosted by employees and for a banner thought to have unduly promoted the mayor’s reelection bid.

But Mayor Rama is undaunted: “Mao ra na ilang ikiha? Pildi na sila. Hasta kana? Surrender na lang mo. Pildi na mo.”

(Is that their only basis for the complaint? They already lost. Even that? You should just surrender. You already lost.)

In the first case, complainants Evelyn Benavente and Jessica Go want administrative, criminal and civil charges filed against the mayor, Carlo Dugaduga, city public information officer, City Hall employees Simeon Romarate, Jeffrey Cantilla and Eli Espina, and barangay Apas Captain Ramil Ayuman for violation of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Romarate, Cantilla, Espina and Ayuman are anchors of the program “Kagawasan” aired over radio dyLA. The complainants alleged the program has been used to attack BOPK candidates.

Benevente and Go also questioned the employees use of City Hall work hours for their program aired from 3 p.m. to 5p.m. on weekdays.

The second complaint against Rama was filed before the Commission on Election (Comelec) Cebu City office by lawyer Estrella Menchavez for alleged violation of Comelec Resolution No. 9615 or the rules and regulation implementing the Fair Election Act.

Co-respondents in the Comelec complaint are members of the mayor’s Team Rama and Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) head Collin Rosell.

BOPK head and Cebu south district Rep. Osmeña said that use of City Hall said politics should be an issue.

“Even if it (the filing of the complaints against Rama) is politically motivated, what’s wrong with that? Is it a crime?”

Defense

Rosell said that the tarpaulins in his office are not campaign materials.

He clarified that “Let there be light” is a legitimate program of the city with 20,000 families availing of the electricity permits.

Dugaduga for his part said he did not expect the case against him and other persons involved in the radio program Kagawasan.

“But we welcome their course of action, so that we will be given a fair chance to answer the issue,” Dugaduga said in Cebuano.