Mike Rama eyes councilor seat, open to department head roles for 2028

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Lowering his sights from his usual high-stakes ambitions, defeated former Cebu City Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama revealed he was willing to return to City Hall in any capacity, even as a city councilor or a department head, as he attempts to navigate a path back into local politics.

In an interview with CDN Digital on Thursday, the veteran leader of Team Rama said that while he would be stepping back from the city’s top job, he intended to remain a backseat driver in local government ahead of the 2028 elections.

The announcement comes despite severe legal clouds hanging over his political future, including a double-whammy of Ombudsman rulings that ordered his dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding government office.

Mike Rama eyes 2028 comeback: ‘We will be back’

‘I just want to serve’

Asked whether he still sees himself running for public office, Rama said his primary goal remained public service.

“Why not? I am only after… I just want to serve,” Rama said.

He then revealed that his son, Mikel Rama, could eventually carry the family’s political banner.

“Naa naman ako anak, then he will run for mayor. If an election is tomorrow, he will have to run. I have no choice. Siya man nakadaog sa Partido Barug,” Rama said.

(I already have a son, and he will run for mayor. If the election were tomorrow, he would have to run. I have no choice. He won in Partido Barug.)

The statement marks one of Rama’s clearest indications yet that he sees the next generation of the family taking a larger role in city politics while he assumes a supporting role.

READ: Mike Rama to address media after Edu votes yes on Duterte impeachment

Why councilor?

When asked why he would consider running for councilor rather than seeking the mayoralty or vice mayoralty again, Rama said younger leaders should take center stage.

“Number one, hinangol na lang gyud na nga sige’g ibabaw. Mikel is a young man. Dondon is a young man. Let them do their share,” Rama said.

(Number one, it would already be greedy to keep wanting the top position. Mikel is a young man. Dondon is a young man. Let them do their share.)

Rama was referring to his son Mikel and Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros, one of his longtime political allies.

“Kami mga elders will be there to help them (We elders will be there to help them),” he added.

READ: Ombudsman turns up heat on Marcoleta, Estrada, Villanueva

The former mayor went so far as to offer himself up for mundane, appointed bureaucracy, listing the Department of Public Services (DPS) or the Department of General Services (DGS) as offices he would be willing to lead.

“If gusto nila ako mo-head sa DPS, then ako mo-head sa DPS. Gusto sila sa head sa DGS, then ako mo-head, or city administrator. Okay ra gyud ko. Ang pinakaimportante, the show must go on, and the will of the people should be respected,” Rama said.

(If they want me to head the Department of Public Services, then I will head the DPS. If they want me to head the Department of General Services, then I will head it, or serve as city administrator. That’s fine with me. What’s important is that the show must go on and the will of the people should be respected.)

Return plans emerge amid legal hurdles

Despite Rama’s attempts to frame his future as a voluntary transition to an “elder statesman” role, his political fate remains largely out of his hands.

The former mayor is currently fighting to reverse the Ombudsman’s decisions, which found him guilty of administrative offenses, including nepotism and anomalous garbage contracts.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has previously maintained that these strict rulings render him entirely ineligible to run for any elective post unless overturned by the Supreme Court.

Rama placed a distant third behind Nestor Archival Sr. and Raymond Alvin Garcia during the May 2025 midterm elections.

TAGS: 2028 elections, Cebu, Cebu City, Cebu Daily News, Mike Rama