Supplemental budget mess: Plenty of lawyers to defend CH employees - Rama

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama assured City Hall officials and employees that they will be defended by several lawyers in the administrative complaint against them for participating in the protest rally against the City Council.

Rama said he was not surprised not to be included in the complaint filed by a certain Ernesto Adolfo before the Civil Service Commission because he believes something is still coming.

 “I will be willing to be counted to be a part of those who have been sued because this is a kawsa (cause) rather than being sued and imprisoned because of stealing money,” he said.

Adolfo, resident of  Barangay Busay, asked the CSC to place the employees involved in the protest rally during office hours under preventive suspension while the investigation is being conducted and to eventually dismiss them from service.

Rama said he can guarantee that there will be several lawyers to defend the employees from the case. Among them are lawyers Mikel Rama, Eston Rama, Emanuel Rama, Janeses Ponce, Melvin Garcia, and even the City Legal Office.

“City legal will also handle because these are employees,” Rama said.

In the first place, he said it was not a protest but a “People’s Day.”

Among those facing administrative charges are Eduardo Rama Jr., Brandon Matas, lawyer Janeses Ponce, Eunice Meting, Monette Mabanag, Florence Balungcas, all under the Office of the Mayor; Oscar Abordo, Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez, and Joel Navasquez of the City Planning and Development Office; Collin Rossel and Caroline Campomanes of the Office of the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor; Department of Public Services head Rolando Ardosa; Cebu City Agriculture Department Joelito Baclayon; and Cebu City Markets head Raquel Arce.

The other respondents are Jonah John Rodriguez, Noel Artes, Rainer Ramos, Teofilo Rosaroso, Lina Santiago, Teresita Jesena, Abbey Canturias, Katrina Mae Guantero, Jed Jimenez, Flora Bering, Brenda Tumarao, garbage operators and crew from Barangays Inayawan, Busay, Sapangdaku, Sto. Niño, and Tinago.

Adolfo believes that these employees abandoned their public offices to participate in the protest during office hours. Rama said he would not be surprised if job orders or casual employees will be charged next.

“Ang tan-aw nako they will never stop filing cases. Why? Because they thought that by filing cases, people will be cowed. People will develop fear,” he said.

He said the City Councilors who have voted for the deferment of the approval of the P2.8 billion Supplemental Budget-1 would be “admonished, reprimanded, and the worst, they will be sanctioned.”

SB-1 contains P87 million garbage tipping fee, P77 million productivity enhancement incentive, and P2.3 billion prepayment of South Road Property loan, among others.

The City Council deferred its approval pending the decision of the court on the civil case filed against its members seeking to stop the city government from using the proceeds in the sale of SRP lots.

“They should never make that mistake kay ang gaba dili magsaba,” Rama said. — (FREEMAN)