Cebu City Council disowns mayor’s court petition

THE Cebu City Council yesterday passed a resolution to oppose the filing of a  court petition by the mayor against the order of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to replace City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva.

Mayor Michael Rama said he was  not surprised by the action as he does not have a “friendly” city council.

The resolution introduced by Councilor Agustus Pe Jr. said the filing of the petition for declaratory relief on Purisima’s order replacing Oliva with Emma Villarete lacked “the authority, concurrence and approval of the council.”

It said  the council does not  share the mayor’s sentiments against Purisima.

In fact, they are opposed to Oliva’s retention.

“The stand of his honor, the city mayor is purely his and is not reflective of the sentiments of the Sanguniang Panlungsod,” Pe said.

Pe’s resolution was carried by the council when  two of Mayor Rama’s vocal allies Councilors Edgar Labella and Jose Daluz III were not around.

The two already stepped out of the session hall when the resolution  was taken up as “other matters” in the day’s agenda.

Councilor Eduardo Rama, the mayor’s nephew, objected to Pe’s resolution but he was outvoted.

Those who voted in favor of the resoltuion were Councilors Pe, John Philip Po, Noel Wenceslao, Roberto Cabarrubias, Alvin Arcilla, Sisinio Andales, Rodrigo Abellanosa, Nida Cabrera, Alvin Dizon and Ronald Cuenco.

“They are not the ones being aggrieved. I was the one  aggrieved,” Rama said of Seceretary Purisima’s order.

Rama said  the council has to be reminded that while they are not on friendly terms, he was chief executive of the city.

Rama said Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young should also cease from acting as his adviser because he does not need one.

City Hall lawyers filed with the  Regional Trial Court last week the petition for declaratory relief questioning the validity of Purisima’s appointment of Emma Villarete as city treasurer replacing  Oliva.

In their petition, City Hall lawyers said the finance secretary may have “acted with grave abuse of discretion “ when he did not act on the earlier motion for reconsideration to its February 2012 order replacing Oliva with Tessie Camarillo./Chief Reporter Doris C. Bongcac