By Xander Ledesma
Police were deployed to Cebu City Hall on Monday to maintain order following an attempt by dismissed Mayor Michael Rama to reclaim his position. The situation escalated after Rama’s supporters protested when city personnel clamped an SUV belonging to the former mayor, which was parked in a spot reserved for the city mayor.
Rama attended the flag-raising ceremony at City Hall but left shortly afterward to hold a press conference near Magellan’s Cross. Accompanied by his son, Mikel, and former city administrator Collin Rossel, Rama announced his intent to resume office following the conclusion of his six-month preventive suspension.
Rama addressed allegations of nepotism that led to his dismissal, defending the hiring of his wife’s two brothers as casual employees in the city government. He argued that employing family members in government service was not an uncommon practice. The Ombudsman had earlier dismissed Rama for these alleged nepotism violations.
This latest dismissal followed a prior 10-month suspension for allegations of failing to pay the salaries of four regular employees, adding to Rama’s legal and political troubles.
Col. Antonietto Cañete, Cebu City Police director, confirmed the deployment of riot police to the city hall complex to ensure public safety and prevent potential unrest. “There’s no maximum tolerance when it comes to violation of the law,” Cañete said, emphasizing that authorities would allow peaceful protests but intervene if laws were violated.
Tensions briefly heightened when Rama entered City Hall but later left through a rear exit in a car driven by his son.
Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, who succeeded Rama, stated that he maintains respect for the former mayor despite the current situation. “We remain friends, and he deserves respect for his service as mayor,” Garcia said, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the matter.