CEBU, Philippines – Michael Rama is still the Cebu City Mayor, his lawyers said in a press conference Wednesday, November 20. Rama’s six-month preventive suspension has lapsed while his widely reported dismissal from office has never been implemented, said lawyers Collin Rosell and Mikel Rama said.
Rosell, who was the Cebu City administrator under Rama, also said that he has filed several complaints against Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Cebu City Police Office Director Colonel Antonietto Cañete, and several other police and city hall officials.
In the case documents, Rosell identified Garcia as “vice mayor of Cebu City.”
The cases include arbitrary detention, unlawful arrest, tumultuous disturbance, slight physical injuries, grave threats, grave coercion, malicious mischief, violation of the New Philippine Passport Act, violation of the Access Device Regulation Act, child abuse, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, grave abuse of authority. The cases were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas and sought damages and preventive suspension.
Mikel, who is also the son of the embattled Michael Rama, said they will file even more cases.
The cases stemmed from the arrest and detention of Rosell last November 8 after he held a press conference at city hall and signed papers as city administrator in the Office of the Mayor. Rosell said he was reassuming his post after his preventive suspension lapsed.
Rosell said his arrest last November 8, a Friday, was irregular and politically motivated. Mikel said it was obvious that they wanted to harass and humiliate Rosell by detaining him for several days since the case for which he was arrested was only filed on the Tuesday afternoon after the incident. Rosell was able to post bail by noon of November 9.
Rosell said it was a warrantless arrest without a complaint and without him being subjected to inquest proceedings, despite the availability of court personnel even at night.
Rosell said he included child abuse among his complaints because what the police did deprived his support of his five minor children who depended on him. He said there were also five college students who depended on him although he clarified not all are his children. The other cases were filed because his phone, laptop, identification, and other belongings were not returned to him.
Rosell also questioned why the police blotter indicated a different arresting officer when it was Cañete who led his arrest. He said everything was on video.
Rosell also questioned the usurpation charge when even the Cebu City Charter supported his contention that he was still the city administrator. He cited a provision in the charter that said the city administrator “shall hold office only during the term of office of the appointing Mayor, and until his successor is appointed and qualified, unless sooner separated for or without cause by the Mayor.
Mikel and Rosell also described as unusual and irregular the way that Rama’s suspension was reported and Garcia was sworn in as his full-fledged replacement to complete his term. Mikel said they sent official communications to both the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Ombudsman Visayas on the implementation of the dismissal as early as October 18.
Mikel said they requested for “proof of service of the subject implementation order to Mayor Rama’s counsel of record” and documents stipulating DILG’s involvement in the implementation.
“We really asked for documentation and proof nga naay (there was) implementation,” Mikel said. “Up to now, up to this very date, nobody has given us any documentation, records nga naay (that there was) implementation done.”
Mikel said this was important because it is laid down by regulations and they needed it “to pursue remedies” available to his father.
They also questioned why DILG Central Visayas Director Leocadio T. Trovela did not verify the implementation with the Ombudsman Visayas, and instead took the word of the office of Mayor Garcia.
Rama, along with seven other city hall officials, was suspended in May over the non-payment of salaries of several city hall workers. Near the end of his suspension, reports spread about his dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding a public post for nepotism.
When asked about the whereabouts of Rama and whether the latter would be acting as mayor, Mikel merely answered with “everything will be revealed in due time.”
Rosell, however, said Rama does not need to be at city hall to act as mayor. He also said that being city administrator, he is the alter ego of the mayor. The mayor is an office and not just a person, he said.
“Kung kita ka nako, kita ka sa mayor,” Rosell said. (If you see me, you’re seeing the mayor.) – Rappler.com
Max Limpag, a freelance journalist based in Cebu, is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2024.