Nov 3, 2024
Dismissed Mayor Michael Rama prepares to challenge the legitimacy of Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia's ascent to the mayoral position.
At a press conference on Thursday, October 31, Rama announced his intention to file legal actions against Garcia, claiming his takeover lacks a valid legal foundation. “I will file all available cases against those who have usurped power,” Rama declared.
His statements come in light of an order from the Office of the Ombudsman, issued on September 9, 2024, which led to his dismissal over charges of nepotism and grave misconduct. This order mandates his removal from office, nullifies his eligibility, and disqualifies him from future government service. However, he contends that he has not yet received any official documents regarding his dismissal, asserting that without such notification, he remains the legitimate mayor.
“The people’s mandate from the 2022 election should be respected,” emphasized Rama’s lawyer, Ernesto Rama. He challenged Garcia’s authority, questioning whether Garcia has the support of the electorate: “Does he have the mandate of the Cebuanos? He does not.”
In response, Mayor Garcia maintains that his actions are in accordance with the law as affirmed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. “I won’t comment further on this issue,” he stated succinctly.
Garcia's administration faces scrutiny as he proposes a budget of P17 billion for 2025, which contrasts sharply with Rama’s ambitious P100 billion proposal for 2024. Rama criticized Garcia’s budget, suggesting it lacks the foresight needed for the city's future. “If they are crafting a budget for the elections, it reveals their true intentions,” he remarked.
Garcia has previously labeled Rama’s budget proposals as “unrealistic,” citing a Commission on Audit report that flagged the P51 billion budget for 2023 as “overly ambitious.”
The conflict extends beyond budgetary concerns to a broader vision for Cebu City. Rama expressed his discontent with Garcia’s decision to abandon the “Singapore-like Cebu City” aspiration, a vision that he argues was developed collaboratively over time. “He has no right to dismiss this vision. It’s not just about copying another city; it’s about striving for improved standards for our own,” Rama insisted.
Garcia, however, has stated that the city should cultivate its unique identity rather than emulate Singapore. “We need to focus on what makes Cebu City special,” he asserted.
As tensions escalate, both leaders are poised for a potentially contentious legal and political showdown that will shape the future of Cebu City.