CEBU CITY – Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia on Monday said he would take his oath as full-pledged mayor of the city after he files his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday.
Garcia will assume the post after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Mayor Michael Rama over nepotism charges.
Rama is also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
“I will let the City Legal Office furnish a copy of the dismissal order to Mayor Mike Rama. Anyway, the HR (Human Resource) Department already has a copy of the order,” Garcia said during a press conference at the Cebu City Hall.
Garcia said he wishes Rama well as the latter would take legal actions to counter the decision of the Ombudsman.
“I wish him well regarding the process that he has to undertake. Of course, I know it must be a very difficult situation for him,” he said.
He said operations at the Cebu City Hall would be “business as usual” and there would be no changes in his priority projects and programs.
“My priority on health is the same, on the flood battle remains the same, on solving the many issues here hounding the city, they remain the same,” Garcia said.
Last week, Rama sought a status quo ante order and urgent motion to raffle the case before the Supreme Court.
The petition seeks to overturn the anti-graft body’s order, set aside the dismissal and reinstate him as mayor.
Meanwhile, former Bureau of Customs commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz and former Philippine Basketball Association player Bonil Balingit filed their COC for mayor and south district councilor, respectively.
Ruiz said he is running without a vice mayor and congressional candidates. (PNA)