2 ‘mayors’ while Tomas is away

CEBU, Philippines - As Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña left the country with his wife, Councilor Margarita Osmeña, to celebrate their birthdays and wedding anniversary, a joint designation as acting mayor was issued to Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and City Administrator officer-in-charge Veronica Morelos.

The memorandum was issued July 21 and was received by Labella and Morelos yesterday.

“For and in exigency of public service, you are hereby designated to jointly perform the exclusive authority as Acting Mayor of Cebu City. You are further reminded that Section 46 of R.A 7160 Local Government Code of 1991) provided such limitations of your authorities and functions,” the memorandum reads.

Sought for comment if two individuals can serve as acting mayor, Labella said the answer can be found in Section 46 of the Local Government Code.

Section 46 of the Code states that “when the governor, city municipal mayor, or punong barangay is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical reasons such as, but not limited to, leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from the office, the vice –governor, city-or municipal mayor or the highest ranking sangguniang barangay member shall automatically exercise the power and perform the duties and functions of the local chief executive concerned.”

Acting officials are not allowed to appoint or dismiss employees in the city government unless there is an exceeding number of days that the mayor or governor is still on leave.

“The law is very categorical. I think your guess is as good as mine,” Labella said.

“I’m just exercising pursuant to Section 46 of the Local Government Code whether or not is allowed just look at the section 46 of the Local Government Code. Ako lang, gisunod lang nako ang mandato,” he added.

Labella said it may be necessary to consult the Department of Interior and Local Government  on the matter.

Morelos, for her part, said she believes the double designation is simply to provide check and balance.

“Wala raman… anyway, pila ra man ka days…by Wednesday, abot naman siya, murag there’s nothing big ba,” she said.

If there are documents that need to be signed for emergency reasons, Morelos said she will countersign before Labella affixes his signature.

“Kung emergency, like pananglitan naay sunog… naa ra sad ni vice, kung walay emergency, we can wait until the mayor mobalik. Ang policy gyud nato, una mo sign si Mayor Tom, mo-counter sign ko. Sa naandan, moagi gyud nako,” she said.

The couple will spend their birthdays and 33rd wedding anniversary in Japan. Osmeña’s birthday is on July 26 and while his wife is on the 25th. Their wedding anniversary is on 27th. They are expected to return to the country on July 27. (FREEMAN)