Tom in Hong Kong; Labella is acting mayor

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña left for Hong Kong for a private trip and appointed Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella as acting mayor.

“In the exigency of public service and in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Code of the Philippines and all other existing laws, you are hereby designated as Acting Mayor of Cebu City from September 26, 2016 to September 28, 2016 or immediately upon the return of the undersigned,” read Osmeña’s designation order.

No details of his trip were mentioned in the order which was issued by the mayor’s office yesterday.

Cathy Yso, the mayor’s secretary, said Osmeña flew last Sunday afternoon and will be back by Wednesday.

“He is in Hong Kong, it’s for a vacation. He will be back on Wednesday. He is on leave,” Yso said. The mayor’s son, Miguel, is with him in the trip.

His wife, Councilor Margot Osmeña, was supposed to join the two but the councilor’s secretary said she was unable to join them.
Labella signed the order for his appointment at noon yesterday in his office.

The order also specifies that Labella should observe all limitations of being an acting mayor as far as official functions are concerned.

A copy of the order was also furnished to all City Hall department heads, as well as heads of special bodies and committees.

Labella said Councilor Dave Tumulak is now the acting vice mayor and will preside over the council’s regular session today.

Tumulak is the top-ranked councilor based on his votes during the last May elections.