Mayor Rama hit for ‘epal’ basketball boards

A lawyer wants Mayor Michael Rama suspended for putting his name and the city’s logo on basketball boards he distributed.

Reymelio Delute filed a complaint against Rama before the office of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

He said Rama violated DILG memorandum circular 2010-101 issued by then DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo that prohibits public officials from putting their names, initials and images in government programs and projects.

The practice of putting up billboards or signages bearing the names, initials and images of government officials has been abused by some public officials to advance their political interests.

Delute also said the mayor violated a Commission on Audit (COA) circular which disallows expenses incurred by the specific project.

He attached photos of basketball boards.

Boards in the Portland Basketball Court and the Basak Puso Basketball Court had the seal of the city and the markings “Office of Mayor Michael L. Rama Together we can make things happen.”

The complaint was initially submitted to DILG-7 but the complainant was advised to send it directly to the office of Roxas. Delute said the complaint was received last Friday.

Delute ran as Basak-San Nicolas barangay chairman but lost to the mayor’s cousin, George Rama.

When sought for a comment, Mayor Rama simply said, “I don’t know how and why I violated something. Besides, I was not the one who ran for barangay chairman.” Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita