Rama: No moves vs. dept. heads who left

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will not make any move against the City Hall department heads who walked out of his office during their meeting last Tuesday afternoon because they cannot serve him politically.

The mayor was laughing while being interviewed by The FREEMAN yesterday about the reported loyalty check that he did on the department heads.

“Nadala ra sila sa hata,” the mayor said, meaning what he did was just a gimmick as a way to find out who among the people around him are not really with him, particularly during this election period.

City Veterinarian Alice Utlang earlier said that after Rama told the department heads that those who cannot work and help him may walk out of the office, the mayor left them and entered the other room.

Utlang said she asked the mayor to clarify on what he meant by saying he want the department heads to “help” him and this was the time that Rama reportedly told them ‘kinsa tong makatabang nako politically, pabilin. Kung kinsa ang dili, ayaw paabota nga ako ang mopagawas ninyo kay kaila baya ko sa inyoha.”

This time Utlang and five other department heads walked out. The others were City Treasurer Emma Villarete, Personnel chief Evangeline Abatayo, Internal Control Office head Arlene Rentosa, Department of Manpower Development and Placement head Fidel Magno and City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez.

The law provides that during the election period, the dismissal, suspension and transferring of assignments of government personnel or subjecting them to investigation is strictly prohibited.

Rama said when he returned to the room, he asked somebody to lead the prayer and after it was finished, he announced that the meeting was adjourned.

“Gusto lang nako nga mahibaw-an kun andam ba gayud sila motabang nako even after their work,” he said.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)