Cebu city department heads reminded of mayor’s ‘gag order’

City Administrator Lucelle Mercado attends a City Council hearing in her capacity as City Anti-Indecency Board (CAIB) chairperson in this October 8, 2014 file photo.

Cebu City Hall’s department heads were reminded anew to first seek clearance from Mayor Michael Rama before appearing before  an executive session of the City Council.
City Administrator Dr. Lucelle Mercado reissued Rama’s 2012 memo  on the matter.

“As a matter of policy, the April 4, 2012 memorandum has not been revoked and is still effective to date. Please be guided accordingly,” Mercado said in a memorandum she issued last Thursday.

Rama cited section 455 of the Local Government Code which mandates the local chief executive to be responsible to the council for all programs of the city government as well as to ensure that all officials and employees of the city perform their duties and functions.  The memo was sent to the City Council secretariat and then vice mayor Joy Augustus Young. It also limits the appearance of department heads to the council’s executive sessions.

Reminder

The memo specified that all invitations and requests for appearance of department heads, assistant department heads and heads of offices in any fora should be coursed through the mayor’s office.

Rama earlier said he prohibits some officials from  attending  council sessions and hearings since they end up being grilled and even subjected to humiliation at times.

In his Facebook account, Councilor Sisinio Andales posted a copy of the memo which he calle a  a “GAG Memo.”

“My office at City Hall received a GAG Memo dated Feb. 26, 2015 which was received on Feb. 27, 2015. Where (are) the policies of transparency and check and balance? Are we hiding something?

Kamo unsay ikasulti ninyo (How about you, what can you say?),” his post read.

Sought for comment, Mercado said she reissued the memo just as a reminder.

“It’s just a reminder that the memo was not cancelled or changed. The order is just right since the mayor is the head of the (executive) office,” she told reporters.

Asked what will happen when heads and assistant heads still appear before the council without the mayor’s permission, Mercado said she will talk to them and make them understand  the instructions.