THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 will resume this week its investigation on the administrative complaint filed by lawyer Reymelio Delute against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and 13 other city officials over the distribution of the P20,000 calamity aid in 2013.
The legal proceedings will include the presentation of at least 100 witnesses for Mayor Rama and the city officials.
“The formal investigation in this case is hereby set on Nov. 3 and 5 at 2:00 p.m. at the DILG Regional Office, Cebu City for the presentation of the evidence of the respondens,” DILG summary hearing officer Isidro Barrios said in an order dated October 22.
The witnesses are Cebu City Hall employees who also received the calamity aid, the secretary of the Cebu Cebu City Council, the resident auditor of the Commission on Audit (COA), and a representative of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 7.
Last month, Delute’s camp finished presenting their witnesses, who included himself and CDN Day Desk Editor Doris Bongcac.
Delute also presented his exhibits, which included copies of the resolution that allowed the grant of financial assistance, the appropriation ordinance, and the letter of Mayor Rama to the council on the release of calamity aid.
Delute also included the privilege speech of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and the annual audit report of the Commission on Audit that includes an observation on the release of the aid.
Barrios earlier said they hope to wrap up the investigation within the month and endorse their recommendations to the Office of the President by the first quarter of 2016.
It will be Malacañang which will render a decision on the case.