Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama speaks during a press conference for the Pasko sa Uptown on Thursday, December 10, 2020. CDN Digital photo | Delta Letigio
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama has clarified that he is no longer the acting mayor of the city as Mayor Edgardo Labella has resumed office albeit working from home while recuperating from his ear infection.
Rama conducted a press conference on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, and said that there may have been confusion over the statements released by the Office of the Mayor in the past two days.
On Sunday, Labella told reporters that he will be extending his leave until January 29, 2021, due to doctor’s orders, but the day after, the mayor posted a statement on his Facebook page that he will be in fact working from home.
This confusion has led to some problems in bureaucratic processes within the City Hall as to who should sign documents and where should final approvals go.
The vice mayor put to rest all confusion, saying that he has not received a designation document that would extend his serving as acting mayor beyond January 22, 2021, which was the supposed end of the sick leave of Mayor Labella.
Health concerns
With this, Rama said he has returned to his usual duties as vice mayor of the city and will preside over the City Council’s regular session on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
“I have not received any document designating me as acting mayor. As of now I am the vice mayor of Cebu City,” said Rama.
Still, the vice mayor expressed concerns on the health status of the mayor, saying he last spoke to the chief executive on Saturday, January 23, 2021, and has not corresponded with him since.
He said the executive department must reveal the state of the mayor’s health in order to quell rumors that he is unable to sit in office.
The vice mayor also said he cannot answer if the executive department is working smoothly without the mayor working physically in the office since he is only handling the legislative department.
Meanwhile, Mayor Labella will be addressing city residents in a press conference on Wednesday morning.
/bmjo
Read: Labella not in ‘coma,’ but in hospital for ear infection