Lawyer Files Raps Vs. Rama

A lawyer formally asked on Monday the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the actuation of Mayor Michael Rama who distributed cash assistance to the senior citizens in Cebu City last Christmas out of the funds already intended for the construction of a hospital building.

Lawyer Reymelio Delute strongly believed that the mayor has violated the law. He explained that when Rama allegedly spent the P300 million for projects other than the construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) building without authority from the City Councils, he committed technical malversation.

Delute will also ask the anti-graft body to study that Mayor Rama violated another provisions of the law, which constitutes grave abuse of authority, an administrative case.

It was Delute who also filed a case against Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and 11 city councilors before the Office of the President for the granting of P20,000 calamity financial assistance to each of the city officials and employees in December 2013.

The case is still pending and it is the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is being tasked by Malacañang to look into it.

Delute said what the mayor did was considered illegal because he failed to first secure the authority of the City Council to use the funds for some other projects.

The P300 million was originally part of the P500 million budget for the Drainage Improvement Project, but Mayor Rama had successfully convinced the City Council to realign the amount for the construction of a new CCMC building.

“Klaro kaayo nga ang mayor nakahimo og technical malversation kay wala man niya gipa-realign usa sa City Council kun may tinguha man siya nga gamiton alang sa pagpanghatag og cash assistance sa mga senior citizens,” said Delute.

“Pasagdi lang na siya. Tubagon lang nako na sa Ombudsman,” said the mayor.

But City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas was so quick to defend the mayor saying that what the mayor did is not illegal because the amount was not placed on trust funds under the Cebu City Medical Center.

“Tinuod nga ang kuwarta gitagana sa construction sa CCMC pero diha ra man na gibutang sa General Fund. Dili man kana illegal kay mailisan ra man gihapon na nga kantidad,” Cuevas said.