Palace orders suspension of key Binay ally in Cebu City

CEBU CITY—Just a month before the May 9 elections, the Office of the President ordered the suspension for six months of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and 12 councilors for abuse of authority for providing calamity aid of P20,000 to city hall employees who were not victims of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake and Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013.

The order was signed on Thursday by Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr. on behalf of President Aquino.

“Damage is an essential component for the intended beneficiaries,” the order said.

The Department of Interior and Local Government was directed to ask the Comission on Elections central office in Manila if the suspension could be enforced during an election period.

Reached for comment, Rama said he had not received a copy of the order.

But he said he would discuss with his lawyers what steps to take.

Rama and Labella are seeking reelection under Team Rama, which has allied with the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Four of the councilors ordered suspended belonged to Team Rama. They are Noel Wenceslao, David Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella and Gerardo Carillo.

Three are seeking reelection while Carillo is running for congressman of Cebu City’s south district.

The eight other councilors ordered suspended belong to Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan, a Liberal Party ally.

They are Nestor Archival Sr., Mary Ann de los Santos, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Roberto Cabarrubias, Ma. Nida Cabrera, Alvin Dizon and Eugenio Gabuya Jr.

Archival is running for vice mayor while the rest are seeking reelection.