Ombudsman clears Rama on Rallos plaint
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was cleared by the Ombudsman of charges of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees filed against him by a Rallos heir.
Graft investigator Llorene Grace Razo-Ompod said Rama managed to “sufficiently disprove” the complaint filed by Lucina Rallos on his alleged failure to reply to an offer of compromise on the Rallos lot case on July 21, 2012.
A copy of the joint resolution was sent to the mayor’s office last Sept. 13 Lucina Rallos accused Rama of violating Republic Act No. 6713 before the Ombudsman-Visayas.
She alleged that Rama did not respond to a letter dated July 21, 2012 which she sent proposing a compromise with the city government on the Rallos lot dispute.
The Rallos heirs are seeking payment for a lot in barangay Sambag 2 that they claim to be owned by the late Fr. Vicente Rallos and is now used as a barangay road.
Rama said in a counter-affidavit he filed before the Ombudsman that while Lucina Rallos’ letter was received at his office, this didn’t actually reach him.
He said the mayor’s office consist of 13 attached offices and commissions.
As a procedure, Rama said legal matters are also referred immediately to the City Legal Office for review.
Ompod said in her joint resolution that the motion for reconsideration which the Cebu City government filed on the court decision directing release of payment to the Rallos heirs manifested clearly the city’s rejection of the compromise.
“The city government’s non acceptance of complainant and Rallos’ offer became more pronounced when the City Government subsequently filed a petition for review (of the RTC decision) with the Supreme Court,” Ompod said.
Ompod also took consideration of Rama’s justification in his counter-affidavit “that his (Rama’s) office refrained from making communications outside the auspices of the court” to avoid violating the rule on subjudice.
