Acting Mayor Garcia admits ‘distance’ with suspended Mayor Rama

Mayor Michael Rama. Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Is the Rama-Garcia political tandem truly coming to an end?

Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia admitted a growing rift between him and suspended Mayor Michael Rama, following Rama’s sharp disapproval of Garcia’s political direction since assuming the role of acting mayor.

In an exclusive interview with Jason Monteclar, posted on his official Facebook page on June 17 at 6:30 a.m., which garnered hundreds of shares and comments, Garcia disclosed that he had been repeatedly questioned about this issue by both the media and his close friends.

Garcia admitted that he “no longer feels positive” about Rama’s recent actions and statements, particularly those directed against him and his policies.

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“I will be honest with you in stating nga true tingali nga naay distansya kay I also felt not so good, felt bad, kani akong gipangbuhat wala siya malipay. In fact, ningadto sila radyo stations, public, wala ko nalipay pod sa iyang gibuhat,” Garcia said.

(I will be honest with you in stating that it might be true that there is a distance between us because I also felt not so good, felt bad, the things that I am doing he was not happy about it. In fact, they made the rounds in the radio stations, public, I was also not happy with what they did.)

Garcia added, “I was not expecting this from him… Kinsa man guy dili malipay nga mamayad ta’g upat ka empleyado nga 10 ka buwan wala bayri? nga ato nabayran within 1 month. I was actually expecting him to commend me for that.”

(I was not expecting this from him…who would not be happy that we paid four employees who were not paid their salaries for 10 months? then we paid them within 1 month. I was actually expecting him to commend me for that.)

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The acting mayor also questioned why the suspended mayor was not pleased, given his efforts to bridge gaps by approving digging and excavation permits for the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

Garcia highlighted that these permits allowed the installation of pipes reaching individual households and remote areas, which he claimed to be a “historic effort” that enabled 5,000 applicants to finally access water.

He believes this milestone should be a cause for satisfaction and questioned where he might have gone wrong in this endeavor.

“Kinsa may dili malipay ana? Asa man ako sayop?” he said.

(Who would not be happy with that? Where had I gone wrong?)

On June 12, during the Team Barug Rama convergence at Plaza Sugbo, the absence of the acting mayor was noticeable. At the event, Rama bluntly remarked that he was the elected mayor, not anyone else.

Earlier, on June 7, Rama expressed concerns about perceived “greed for power “taking hold at Cebu City Hall since his preventive suspension. He also voiced reservations about the acting mayor’s directives.

Meanwhile, when Garcia was asked by Monteclar if he would still be Rama’s vice mayor in the 2025 elections, Garcia responded, “Pangutan-a siya. Ako as a party man, I just want nga grupo unta.”

(Ask him. I as a party man, I just want that we will come from the same group.)

Speculation about political changes started when Rama was preventively suspended, which led Garcia to step in as acting mayor.

Garcia began to differentiate his leadership style by favoring diplomacy over aggression. During Garcia’s tenure, notable changes included cutting budgets for major events and expediting progress on several projects and resolutions, which raised concerns for Rama.

As the political landscape in Cebu City continues to evolve, the public eagerly awaits further developments regarding the future of the Rama-Garcia tandem. This also leaves many wondering how Team Barug Rama is heading, especially now that the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 midterm elections in October is nearing.