Rama Gets 2-month Suspension For Center Island, Street Lighting Project Demolition

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has been slapped with a two-month suspension in connection with a demolition he ordered of a barangay center island and street lighting project last year.

Rama is in Paris, France, attending the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) Framework Convention on Climate Change and could not be immediately reached for comment on the suspension.

However, he is set to attend the opening of the PHP5-billion Robinsons Galleria Cebu mall at the city’s north reclamation area on Thursday.

The suspension order, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on Dec. 2, was for Rama’s alleged violation of the Constitution, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and oppression.

The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by Barangay Captain Victor Buendia of Labangon, Cebu City, who alleged that Rama instructed the members of the city’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team headed by Raquel Arce to demolish the barangay’s center island and street lighting project along Katipunan St., Barangay Labangon, Cebu City in March.

Arce said they were only following orders and had to destroy the protruding piles of hollow blocks at the center island, because it was a traffic hazard particularly at night since the area is dimly lit.

Rama said that after his inspection of the project, he found out that a center island is not appropriate for the said road.

Buendia claimed the PHP300,000-center island and street lighting project had the mayor’s approval even before it was constructed.

The Office of the President ordered Rama to answer Buendia’s complaint in October.

Rama, of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), is seeking reelection against former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan. (PNA) FFC/BNB/EB/EDS