Mayor Rama, Supporters to Face Charges before Ombud,Comelec

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and some of his political supporters were sued yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas and Commission on Elections (Comelec) for allegedly violating two election-related laws.

The complaint for alleged violation of Republic Act 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees was filed at the Ombudsman, while the case for violation of Comelec Resolution No. 9615 was also filed before the Commission on Elections.

Rama was named among the respondent in two separate complaints, but the  mayor said he is not afraid of the charges, saying “Wala na g’yud sila’y laing isyu? Ang pangiha na lang g’yud? Natarantar na g’yud na sila. Tubagon namo na’ng kasoha.” (Don’t they have any other issues? but to file charges? They are panicked. We will answer those charges)

Aside from the mayor, the other respondents in the case filed before the Ombudsman are City Public Information Officer Carlo Dugaduga, Simeon Romarate, Jeffrey Cantilla, Eli Espina and Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman.

Lawyers Perla Centino and Dandel Rose Villacastin, counsels of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), represented the two civilian complainants Jessica Go and Evelyn Benavente in the filing of the formal complaint before the anti-graft body.

Both Benavente and Go claimed that the mayor gave authority to the four City Hall employees and Ayuman to anchor the radio blocktime program aired at DYLA from 3 to 4 o’clock in the afternoon from Monday to Friday to boost the image of the Team Rama candidates and to attack their political opponents.

Centino and Villascatin said the actuations of five respondents clearly involved partisan political activity, which is strictly prohibited under the 1987 Constitution.

The BOPK lawyers cited the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Eleazer P. Quinto vs. Comelec, where the High Court reiterated the importance of the political ban on civil service officers and employees to engage in partisan political activity.

“Respondents serving as anchors for the interest of reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama have clearly crossed the line between making allowed commentaries from engaging in partisan political activity,” the BOPK lawyers said.

They added that the respondents have violated the law because while they are using their government time to anchor in blocktime political radio program, they are also attacking the opponents of Rama.

“The above-named government employees used government funds and resources in hosting the radio program because they are expected by the public to be in their work stations during office hours,” the complaint reads.

But respondents Espina, Ayuman and Romarate explained that they are  just complying the orders to handle the program in order to disseminate information to the public, particularly the accomplishments of Rama’s administration.

Meanwhile, BOPK representative Estrella “Star” Menchavez accuses Rama, Team Rama and Collin Rosell, head of the City Hall’s Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor (DWUP) for violating the provisions of Comelec Resolution No. 9615.

Menchavez said she has decided to file the complaint before the  Comelec against the mayor and Rosell, including the Team Rama, because they allowed the posting of campaign poster right at the entrance of DWUP office situated at the 2nd Flloor of City Hall.

The context of the tarpaulin hanged near the entrance of DWUP want to give credit to the mayor for implementing the so-called Let There Be Light Program, which helped several families to avail lights from the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) without so much hassle.

But Menchavez said the respondents committed violation because it is reflected in the streamer the word “We Support Mayor Michael Rama and Team Rama,” which means the people are asked to support the entire candidates of Team Rama.