Young: I’ll stay as mayor unless Rama shows up

HIS designation as acting mayor ends today but Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said he will continue his temporary role until Mayor Michael Rama shows up in City Hall.

Rama is due back in the country today but is still on a 22-day post-election vacation leave which started last Monday.

“He (Rama) should show his face. Unless he shows his face, I will still be acting mayor,” said Young.

Rama’s memorandum designated Young, the outgoing vice mayor as acting mayor from May 20 – 24 during his trip to an undisclosed destination abroad.

Young lost his reelection bid to Rama’s running-mate Councilor Edgardo Labella by 184 votes.

In a May 17 memo, Rama authorized Young “to sign all pertinent documents and perform such other function as may be necessary” under the Local Government Code.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete disagreed with Young’s idea of an extended role.

He said that since the mayor was due back from his foreign travel today, the vice mayor no longer automatically takes over his functions as there was no more “temporary incapacity”.

Poblete said even if Rama was still on leave but is within the country, the mayor has the prerogative to choose any of the city’s accountable officers as his officer-in-charge and not necessarily Young./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac