Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama delivers a speech yesterday at the City Hall grounds. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Suspended Cebu city mayor steps down in emotional turnover outside City Hall; His lawyers file petition to stop Malacañang order
Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday returned his official van and took off his barong tagalog before a crowd of supporters in front of City Hall in an emotional turnover of his office.
Some city employees shouted “Laban, mayor, para sa Cebu!” (Fight, mayor, for Cebu) and a few cried, but Rama said he would “heed the rule of law” and was turning over the reins to Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella for the prescribed 60-day preventive suspension.
“If this is the price to pay for upholding the rule of law and general welfare, then I have no choice but to face it,” Rama told reporters later.
He and Labella attended a Holy Mass , dubbed an “Enlightenment Mass” and later a program in the front steps of City Hall at Plaza Sugbo.
That same morning, his lawyers filed a petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals Cebu station challenging the suspension order of the Office of the President arising from the 2014 demolition of a concrete island and lamppost project in barangay Labangon.
“Ampingi ang City Hall, Edgardo Labella,” said the suspended mayor (Take care of City Hall), in a speech that had its moments of political drama.
Rama said the suspension was painful and unfair, but that he would not do anything that would result in trouble or violence.
He said his legal team, headed by his son Mikel, would fight the suspension in court.
“Into Thy hand I will commend my political future to God.
Today is a Friday. Perhaps this is my crucifixion. I wish glory to God and that ultimately light will prevail so that the path of righteousness will win. And that is May 9, 2016,” said Rama.
It was Rama’s first time to show up at City Hall since he returned from his trip to Paris for the climate change conference. The suspension orders were taped on the glass door of his office after staff refused to receive the papers last Thursday.
Midway through his speech, after thanking supporters for wearing T-shirts that said “ I love Mike”, Rama took off his long sleeved barong tagalog, leaving him wearing a white cotton undershirt or camisa de chino.
“Never mind this barong if I can’t carry the dignity of the position. … What matters when you will open your heart, is there is the word service for fellowmen.
“I will remove my barong just to let you understand that I am an ordinary man like anyone of you,” he said before unbuttoning his shirt.
The scene was also a moment of Rama’s typical masa humor. He asked the crowd, “How do I look?” And when the audience called out “Gwapo”, he smiled: “Kamo’y gasulti, dili ako.” (You said that, not me.)
Labella yesterday said he was assuming the role of acting mayor “with a heavy heart”.
Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. will step up as acting vice mayor and presiding officer of the City Council.
To show that “I am and ordinary person just like you”, suspended Mayor Michael Rama removes his barong tagalog before supporters outside City Hall during a program after an outdoor Mass. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
There’s no need for an oath-taking ceremony since the rule of succession is provided in the law, said Regional Director Rene Burdeos of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7.
“Under the Local Government Code, if the period of incapacity for the mayor is more than 30 days, the vice mayor will be able to exercise all the powers of the mayor already,” Burdeos told CDN.
“We appreciate the effort of Mayor Rama of stepping down and ensuring a smooth transition and upholding the rule of law,” said Burdeos.
In his speech, Rama said he was just doing his job by fighting for a supplemental budget that would grant cash incentives for City Hall employees. He also announced that that financial aid scheduled for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and incentives for barangay workers would be released soon.
The mayor later called his family members and some barangay officials on stage to sing “Bayan Ko” then sat down for a press conference.
Among those at the program were Team Rama candidates like Alvin Garcia, Councilor Gerardo Carillo, and Joy Pesquera.
On an outdoor table, Rama signed turnover documents for his government-issued Toyota Hi-Ace Super Grandia van.
Now that his white van is with the General Services Office, Rama said he would move around by riding a taxi, jeepney “or tartanilla” unless somebody can lend him a car since he doesn’t own one.
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