Osmeña
Osmeña goes on vacation; vice mayor says he does not need Tom O.’s appointment to be Cebu City’s top exec
EVEN without being appointed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella will take over as acting mayor from July 23 to July 28.
Labella said a formal appointment by the mayor, when he goes on leave, is not needed as the law provides that the vice mayor automatically assumes the position of acting mayor in those instances.
“Sa pagkatinuod lang dili man ta nga atat oy. I am never hungry for power. And in the first place, there is no power to speak of. This is a responsibility, this is not a power. This is a privilege,” he said.
Osmeña will leave for Japan today, July 23, with his family and friends for a vacation, where the mayor and his wife, Councilor Margot Osmeña, will celebrate their birthdays.
Mayor Osmeña will mark his birthday on July 26 while his wife Margot will celebrate hers on July 25.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has approved Osmeña’s leave until July 28.
LABELLA
Labella cited a section in the Local Government Code to support his automatic assumption as acting mayor.
He said that Section 46 of the Local Government Code stipulated that once the governor or the mayor would take a leave of absence for official business or for a vacation, the vice governor or the vice mayor would automatically assume the power of the mayor.
According to the Local Government Code, the acting governor or acting mayor could exercise the power and perform the duties and functions of the governor or mayor except the power to appoint, suspend, or dismiss employees.
It is also stipulated under the LGC that the local chief executive cannot authorize any local official to assume as acting mayor other than his or her vice.
In a separate interview, Osmeña said that he would issue a proper authorization today.
“It could be the Vice Mayor together with the city administrator jointly. (Because) There are certain restrictions,” he said.
Mayor Osmeña also warned Labella to be careful when sought to comment on his statements about not needing Osmeña’s authorization to assume as acting mayor.