CH workers not allowed in BOPK oath taking rites

CEBU, Philippines - Except for those who are really close to incoming Mayor Tomas Osmeña, City Hall employees are advised to stay at work during his oath taking on Tuesday.

Tomas said he does not want to see City Hall workers leaving their offices to attend his and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) members' oath taking at the Cebu City Sports Center.

"Because oath taking is four o'clock and they're still at work. I will issue direct exemptions to some of my close staff but the employees in the city government, I don't even want you to be there, you stay at work," Tomas said.

Aside from Tomas, also taking their oath before Vice President-elect Leni Robredo are Councilors-elect Margot Osmeña, Eugenio Gabuya, Alvin Arcilla, Mary Ann de los Santos, Sisinio Andales and Joy Young.

Tomas had chosen Leni to swear him and BOPK members into office because he was close to her late husband, former Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo.

Tomas said his inauguration would be the cheapest in the history of Cebu.

"There's no invitation, there's no protocol, there's no dress code except those taking the oath will have to wear barong tagalog, that's it. No marching marines, nothing," Tomas said.

He said the ceremony would only take about 30 minutes because he will not have a very long speech.

"Yes, it's going to be short, maybe 30 minutes ba," Tomas said.

According to him, the invocations would even be longer than his speech because there will be four invocations from Iglesia ni Cristo, Catholic, Protestant and Muslim.

Tomas said his speech would only take three minutes because he will only thank the people who helped him and those who allegedly "took the money of (outgoing Mayor Mike) Rama and voted for him."

There will be a party after the ceremony and everybody is welcome to join. He said buses will be deployed to the different barangays to take the supporters to the venue.

Meanwhile, members of the Team Rama are yet to finalize their oath taking and who will administer it. Councilor-elect Eduardo Rama said they have tentatively scheduled it on June 30 at the Rama compound.

Other Team Rama members include Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Councilors-elect Jerry Guardo, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Jun Alcover, Joel Garganera, David Tumulak, Jose Daluz III, Nendell Hanz Abella, James Anthony Cuenco, and Jocelyn Pesquera. (FREEMAN)