CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he has more time now to visit barangays, attend community gatherings and be a “civilian” after being served a 60-day suspension by the Office of the President.
A photo of him riding a passenger jeepney on Monday on the way to an event in T. Padilla quickly circulated in social media.
“I just wanted to mingle. I’m a civilian now. Riding a jeepney is not alien to me,” he told the 888 News Forum.
No government-issued car? Suspended Mayor Mike Rama takes a jeepney, accompanied by his police body guard, to an event in T. Padilla on Monday.
(PHOTO/LIM C. ALIX)
When Rama turned over his city-issued Grandia van last week to City Hall, he said he didn’t own his own car and would have to borrow one.
Yesterday, Rama was using a blue pickup owned by his brother Jinjing in going to and from events.
Rama said he will look for a bigger vehicle, probably a van, where he can easily change his attire to attend events.
The mayor is keeping himself busy with preparations for next year’s Sinulog.
He was irked by Cebu Daily News’ headline story yesterday “Still on top of Sinulog?” which reported his presiding over the annual meeting of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. board as chairman.
“Apil ba mo mo sa conspiracy nga taktakon ko?” (Are you part of the conpsiracy to have me removed?) he asked.
The news report explained how Rama made good his promise to stay active in preparations for the Sinulog since the foundation was a private entity and was not affected by his suspension.
Yesterday, Rama met with the cluster committees of the Sinulog at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) “to give some reminders”.
“They also have to be looking at the (International) Eucharistic Congress as a mega preparation. There are so many people coming,” he said.
Rama said there will be more meetings as the Sinulog draws nearer.
“I have been emphasizing that if the route will be disrupted, no matter how nice the presentations are in the sports complex, the whole preparation will be for naught,” he said.
Crowd control along the parade route is a recurring concern of organizers.
“Nobody can stop me though from roaming around because I am still the elected mayor. I am the chairman of the Sinulog Foundation. I’m a member elected to become the chairman.
It’s not my cup of tea (to be) hanging on to matters which don’t have legitimacy,” Rama said.
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