Mayor won’t budge on his veto

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama won’t change his mind about vetoing the anti-spanking ordinance passed by the City Council last June.

Despite last ditch efforts by advocates of the ordinance who met the mayor on Monday, Rama  stuck to his position and instead urged sectoral groups to lobby for another ordinance that spells out how to promote positive discipline.

The controversial ordinance, which prohibits “any form of physical and humiliating or degrading punishment on children” is already called the “Positive and non-Violent Discipline of Children Ordinance of Cebu.”

Rama said the ordinance was “anti-poor” and objected to the penalty of a P5,000 fine or a maximum prison term for violators convicted in court.

The mayor said the ordinance should be re-crafted.

Rama said said he will issue his veto before the week ends. He has until July 14 to veto the ordinance.