Where is Rama’s chief of staff?

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama’s chief of staff has reportedly resigned from his job a few days after allegedly receiving a scolding in front of several people inside the Office of the Mayor last week.

Philipp Zafra had reportedly stopped reporting to his office since last Monday but Rama refused to issue any comment about it.

“Sagdi lang, kay ato lang usa siya nga papahuwayon, (Let’s just let him rest first),” the mayor told The FREEMAN when he was asked of the report that Zafra quit his job.

City Hall personnel head Evangeline Abatayo said she did not receive any application for leaves or resignation from Zafra, although one of the mayor’s staff told him that Zafra already tendered his resignation and was handed to Rama’s secretary Belinda Navascues.

Navascues was out of her office yesterday and did not answer to phone calls and text messages. Zafra could no longer be reached on his mobile phone.

A City Hall official, who requested anonymity, said he was able to talk to Zafra, who allegedly revealed his frustrations after the mayor scolded him. Zafra reportedly told him “Goodbye  forever.”

Jovy Montecillo, the mayor’s private secretary, said Zafra is just on leave, but she did not answer when The FREEMAN asked her about the rumors that Zafra already resigned.

This reporter and another City Hall beat reporter witnessed when the mayor was so angry last week upon seeing several persons loitering at the entrance of his office without anybody attending to their concerns.

“Duna gani mga tawo nga moanhi sa akong opisina inyo dayong tagdon! Kon dili mo makaatiman nila, ako na la’y atiman! (If there are people who visit my office, they should be attended to. If you cannot attend to them, I will),” Rama in a raised voice told Zafra.

Zafra used to be the executive assistant of then Councilor Procopio Fernandez and then became consultant of another councilor before he was appointed as the mayor’s chief of staff after Rama was elected mayor in 2010. — (FREEMAN)