Basak chairman charged for refusing use of gym

A resident of barangay Basak San Nicolas has filed an administrative complaint against their barangay captain after he reportedly disallowed his group from using the barangay’s gym for political reasons.

In his complaint filed before the Cebu City Council, Voltaire Cuta of Sitio Alumnos claimed that George Rama disapproved their request to use the gym for their basketball tournament because he supported former congressman Tomas Osmeña in the last elections.

“Rama refused to allow the Alumnos Basketball Association (ABA), which I headed, to use the Alumnus Gymnasium in Alumnus, Basak San Nicolas, because I supported Osmeña,” Cuta said in his affidavit.

George, chairman of barangay Basak Pardo, is the cousin of Mayor Michael Rama. Osmeña failed in his bid to unseat the mayor in the last elections.

Cuta said the barangay chairman violated section 4(d) of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees which states that public officials and employees shall provide service to everyone without discrimination.

Cuta said the ABA was planning to hold a basketball tournament in the Basak San Nicolas gym in time for the Christmas season. ABA used the gym as practice venue last May 13.

The ABA also sent a letter to the barangay chairman inviting him to attend their summer tournament. “Before the association could start with their parade, the respondent Punong Barangay (George Rama) had surfaced from nowhere and seemed not pleased with the group for starting their tournament,” Cuta said in his complaint.

Rama allegedly approved the holding of another tournament in the same venue at the same time without informing the ABA in advance.

The barangay chairman also allegedly shortened the ABA’s practice schedule from 8a.m. to noon to 10a.m. to 12 noon.

The Alumnus gym was closed to give way to the construction of a health center but was reopened for public use last August.

On learning about the re-opening, Cuta sent another letter to Rama asking him to allow the ABA to continue with their old schedule for practices as they are planning to hold a Christmas Basketball League. But Rama turned down the request.

Cuta will run as councilman in the Oct. 28 elections against Team Rama. Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita