Rama apologizes, hits back at Tomas

SUSPENDED Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama apologized to those who took offense at a selfie he took during last Sunday’s Statio Orbis closing Mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

But he also fired back against his predecessor, former congressman and Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña, with a photo of him supposedly drinking brandy inside a chapel during yesterday’s press conference in barangay Tinago.

The mayor said he was walking around during the Mass since he’s part of the IEC organizers and wanted to check on the situation.

“Whoever was bothered, affected, confused or bewildered, I express my apologies to them,” Rama said.

Rama said at one point, he had to climb up a platform to check on the crowd at the San Pedro Calungsod templete at the South Road Properties (SRP) and took a photo of the crowd after the Holy Communion.

When he took photos of the people, he said those standing around him also took photos of him.  Rama recalled hearing them say “mayor, selfie,” a request he granted.

Rama even showed the actual selfie photo on his iPhone 6 Plus with some of the people near him.

He also showed previous photos he took of the crowd during  the closing Mass.

“I had no intent to hurt them. I had no intent to desecrate the event. Why blame people taking a picture? That was a historic event,” Rama also said. He said Pope Francis even takes selfies.

Osmeña earlier criticized Rama for taking selfies during the Holy Communion of the Statio Orbis saying he was disrespectful of the religious activity.

The suspended mayor again denied that Team Rama is involved in putting up a streamer bearing the words “Welcome to Binay Country” at the South Coastal Road.

Rama said the streamer was poorly made in contrast with their streamers which he claimed were produced by allies of Team Rama that are “artists” and “talented people.”

Tinago barangay chairman Joel Garganera also denied Team Rama’s involvement.

He said there was more than one streamer that was put up in the roads leading to the South Road Properties (SRP) last Sunday morning.

He said when he passed by the SRP viaduct at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, he saw a similar streamer that was also hung there. He said he personally took it down.

Garganera said he proceeded to the Rama Compound at barangay Basak San Nicolas and told the mayor about it.

“He said there should be no streamers or posters within the SRP,” he said.

The photo of the “Binay Country” streamer that was posted by a Facebook user was located at the Talisay Access Road leading to the SRP.