Tomas: Probe, suspend Mike

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate Mayor Michael Rama for his refusal to cooperate in the deliberation of the proposed P11.8 billion budget for 2012.

Osmeña also asked Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol to investigate Rama for insisting that Assistant City Treasurer Emma Villarete shall be the one to defend his proposed budget before the City Council, instead of Acting City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo.

While such investigations are underway, Osmeña also wants Rama suspended.

According to Osmeña, Rama violated Section 177 of the Revised Penal Code for appointing Villarete as the officer-in-charge of the City Treasurer’s Office even if the power to designate a treasurer and assistant treasurer belongs to the Bureau of Local Government-Finance (BLGF). 

Osmeña said Villarete can not be appointed to head the City Treasurer’s Office after her appointment as assistant city treasurer was not renewed by the BLGF.

Rama was also accused by Osmeña of “concealing” the letter that his office had received from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) informing the city legislators about the excess expenses of the employees’ salaries and benefits last year amounting to P192 million.

Osmeña said that Mayor Rama violated the provisions of Article 226 of the Revised Penal Code for concealing the documents that his office had received from the DBM.

“This complaint involves matters of great public interest, and as such, I implore the honorable deputy Ombudsman to act swiftly and decisively to protect the interest and welfare of the people of Cebu City,” Osmeña said.

The former mayor asked Apostol to place Rama under preventive suspension pending on the outcome of the investigation.

Osmeña said the Committee on Budget and Finance headed by his wife Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña was supposed to conduct a budget hearing last October 27, to discuss the proposed P11.8 billion budget of Rama, but the mayor and all of his department heads did not show up.

He added that City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete just sent a letter to the City Council, noted by Rama, that the department heads are very willing to appear before the city legislators only during the “full regular budget hearing.”

He told Apostol that when the City Council conducted the budget hearing on November 4, Rama authorized Villarete to defend the budget. But the city legislators insisted that it should be Camarillo, who will appear before them.

Osmeña recalled that Rama summoned all the department heads, excluding Camarillo, who was at that time being grilled by the City Council, to leave the budget hearing and to attend an urgent meeting at his office.

“Mayor Rama continues to insist on his appointment of Villarete, which the City Council cannot countenance as it is against the law. As a result, the budget deliberations have been disrupted and seriously delayed, thereby creating a looming crisis on the passage of the 2012 budget,” Osmeña added.

DBM Letter

Osmeña said Rama had concealed the letter of DBM that was sent to the city council, through the mayor’s office, probably because it contains a report that the previous year’s appropriations for personal services exceeded P192 million from what was allowed by law.

The city’s total allocation for personal services or the salaries and other benefits last year was P1,134,455,880 but what was only is P989,319,430.

The congressman said the two letters from the DBM dated August 10, 2011 and October 28, 2011 were just kept by Rama at his office, although the city legislators were able to get a copy of which from the DBM only two weeks ago.

“Despite of his knowledge thereof, Mayor Rama also disregarded said DBM disallowances in his preparation of the proposed 2012 budget, continuing his propensity to show no respect not only for his co-equal body, the City Council, or for higher authority – in this case the DBM,” said Osmeña.

Rallos property

Osmeña also cited Rama’s refusal to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling about the case involving the Rallos’ property, saying “Please take note that not only does Mayor Rama scoff at the Cebu City Council and DBM, he defies even the Supreme Court.”

The congressman added that “Rama’s blatant disrespect for, and obstinate refusal to abide by, the rule of law, his continuing control over the executive department will have unwanted consequences for the people of Cebu City. He has unilaterally created a looming crisis on the passage of the 2012 budget for the city.”

It prompted Osmeña to ask the anti-graft body to place Rama under preventive suspension pending on the outcome of the investigation of the case.

RAMA REACTS

In response, Rama said “Ipasuspenso g’yud? Grabeha ra ‘sab.” While laughing, Rama just said that he welcomes the filing of charges by Osmeña and he is willing to answer it because “Naanad na ta ana nga pasakaan ta’g kaso.”

Rama was also criminally and administratively charged before the Ombudsman by a group of urban poor families whose houses in Mahiga Creek were destroyed upon the order of the mayor several months ago. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)