Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama answered questions from reporters during the press conference held at the City Hall grounds after his speech.
Rama’s legal counsel has filed a petition for certiorari in the Court of Appeals
While suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he thinks the order for his preventive suspension is illegal, he yielded his post to Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, his ally.
“Ampingi Edgar Labella ang City Hall. (Take care of City Hall, Edgar Labella),” Rama announced after a ‘Mass for Enlightenment’ held past 10 a.m.
Vice Mayor Edgar Labella said he is assuming the post as mayor ‘with a heavy heart’.
In turn, Vice Mayor Edgar Labella said he was taking over ‘with a heavy heart.’
Labella received an order from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to assume as acting mayor on Thursday together with the preventive suspension order for Rama.
“I have to assume as mayor because I’m threatened with dereliction of duty if I don’t,” he said.
Rama admitted that the 60-day suspension is “hurting, disappointing and upsetting.”
He said he is challenging the order of the Office of The President thorough a petition for certiorari filed in the Court of Appeals this morning by his son Mikel, his lead counsel.
“Whatever is my fate in this political struggle, Thy will be done,” he said, quoting Jesus’ acceptance of a painful death by crucifixion in the Bible.
Rama said he is just like everyone else, ordinary, while taking off his barong.
But Rama said he is optimistic that the truth will prevail.
“It is a legal matter. My son will handle it. Based on merits of the case, I’m optimistic truth will prevail.”
He said the suspension order was not an attack against him personally but an attack against the people who elected him to office.
“The people voted for me. They alone have the sovereign right to remove me. Not even Malacañang (can do that),’ he said.
He said he’s still the elected mayor although he won’t be able to perform some functions.