Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he’s prepared to face investigation over the P20,000 calamity assistance he received last year but said he doesn’t believe it’s necessary for him to appear at the marathon hearing scheduled next week.
Rama, Vice Mayor Edgar Labella and 12 of the 17 Cebu city councilors were summoned to a hearing on October 14 to 16 by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-7 in its office in barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
“Why should it be me when you just have to look at the pleadings?” Rama said.
He said he and other respondents already submitted their reply to the complaint filed by Cebu lawyer Remeylio Delute.
Rama said he was ready to answer questions about the city government’s release of P20,000 to all City Hall workers and officials after typhoon Yolanda – if the hearing officers request for his presence.
Rama said the cash assistance was authorized by Supplemental Budget 3 after its approval by Cebu City Council.
“Apil man gani nga ni dawat ang mga abogado (sa konseho). Katong wala ni dawat wala siguro nag kinahanglan pero apil sila sa ni-approve,” he said. (Even the lawyers in the Council approved it. Those who did not receive probably didn’t need it but they approved it.)
Lawyer Christopher Tiu, hearing officer from the DILG’s Legal and Legislative Liaison Service, asked the concerned officials to appear in next week’s marathon hearing at the DILG-7 office in barangay Lahug.
Labella is meeting with City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo to prepare for the hearing. Councilors canceled their October 15 session to make way for the DILG hearing.
Rama said he leaves it up to Labella and Castillo to plan their appearances in the hearing.
“What’s there to have a hearing for when it’s clear that the rules were followed?” Rama said.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
