CH staff working on Team Rama cards on office hours?

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and his political allies are in hot water following a photo of a City Hall employee purportedly preparing Team Rama “green cards” during office hours.

There were allegedly other employees caught working on the said “membership cards” but the employee in a single photo sent to the media was identified as Amelia Abi-Abi, Administrative Aide IV of the city’s Bids and Awards Committee.

The “green card” shows the faces of Rama and his allies, reelectionist Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who is running for congressman. Across their faces is the name of a voter and his or her corresponding precinct number and cluster number.

The other side of the card shows the Team Rama slate from the mayor up to the council aspirants, juxtaposed to the names of their national allies Presidential bet Jejomar Binay and Vice Presidential bet Gringo Honasan. Listed below their names are Cebu City’s emergency hotlines at which the public can supposedly call in case of emergencies.

The card also shows Binay’s political party United Nationalist Alliance, Team Rama’s slogan “Together, we can make things happen,” and another slogan “Akong BOTO dili mapalit.”

The Team Rama claims that the cards were made to guide voters in the city come May 9 elections.

Abi-Abi, who is from Barangay Calamba, told reporters that she was just looking at the cards, which were brought by her unnamed friend at the BAC office.

“Akong gi-ukay-ukay kay ingon akong amiga nga pangitaon kung naa koy kaila ug ipahatod na lang pud sa silingan. Akong gitan-aw ang green cards sa ako pud nga kaila. Dili man ingon ako gyud ang ga-gunting sa green cards,” she said, further denying doing so during office hours.

Rama, for his part, admitted to the existence of the “green cards” but he has allegedly prohibited anyone from preparing or working on it at the City Hall.

“I have not allowed that and it should be stopped,” he said.

The cards, according to Rama, are made for voters’ guidance and his supporters might just be enthusiastic in helping their group.

“Maybe, they are just too much of being overzealous in helping us because green cards are very important to reach to the voters. My instruction was to give it to all whether ours or not. It is for the voter’s guidance,” he said. — (FREEMAN)