Rama’s lawyer asks for reconsideration in calamity aid case

THE Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) resumes its hearing today on the complaint filed against Cebu City officials in relation to the P20,000 calamity cash aid it released to employees in December 2013.
City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo said they will still submit a motion for reconsideration on the February 13 order that denied the city’s motion to dismiss the complaint based on lack of subject matter and jurisdiction.
Castillo reiterated that the order bore the signature of someone who signed in behalf of DILG hearing officer Christopher Tiu, who only signed the notice of order on Feb. 15, the same day it was released.
He said it is improper for two persons to sign related documents at the same time. Castillo said they didn’t receive the original copy of the order and that the date in the document was handwritten.
“The manner which they presented it, the manner in which they issued the order, we are questioning it,” Castillo said.
The complaint filed by lawyer Reymelio Delute against Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and some city councilors stemmed from the city ordinance granting P20,000 calamity assistance to officials and employees in 2013.
Delute said there’s no evidence that city government employees and officials suffered losses due to the October 15 earthquake and supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013.
The initial hearing attended by Rama, Labella and some councilors was held at the DILG office in October last year./Correspondent Nestle L. Semilla