Mike, Dondon lead Cebu City; Take oath a day after Labella passing

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City is now in the hands of newly installed mayor Michael Rama and vice mayor Donaldo Hontiveros, at least in the next seven months.

Rama and Hontiveros took their oath Saturday, a day after Mayor Edgardo Labella passed away on Friday, November 19, 2021.

The oath taking took place at City Hall amidst comments it may have happened too quickly, considering Labella had just passed away.

But Rama said the assumption was something the law requires, otherwise, the position would be vacant.

“When death comes, succession follows. Otherwise, there is hiatus,” he said, quoting the Local Government Code of 1991.

“If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the governor or mayor, the vice-governor or vice-mayor concerned shall become the governor or mayor. If a permanent vacancy occurs in the offices of the governor, vice-governor, mayor, or vice-mayor, the highest ranking sanggunian member or, in case of his permanent inability, the second highest ranking sanggunian member, shall become the governor, vice-governor, mayor or vice-mayor, as the case may be,” the Code reads.

Rama said in a press conference that followed the oath taking:

"This is not the way I would wish to become a regular mayor… But, this has to happen. Me and Dondon have to succeed by operation of law.”

“This has to come. We would just have waited. I have assured that this is not my term. June 30 (2022) ought to be belonging to duly elected mayor Labella. Here we are, to avoid any hiatus, we must get into this motion,” he added.

Rama took oath before Justice Gabriel Ingles, and then administered Hontiveros’ oath.

Present during the ceremony were Rama’s wife, Malou, his sons Mikel and MJ, his brothers, and some relatives. The family of Hontiveros was also in attendance.

Rama is not new to the position of mayor. He was mayor of Cebu City when Labella was still councilor. The two of them ran together and won in the 2019 elections with Labella as mayor and him as vice mayor.

Hontiveros, meanwhile, is on his first term as councilor. He admitted that it never occurred to him when he decided to join politics that he would, one day, sit as the second highest official of the city.

Incidentally, he was acting mayor when Labella passed away, as Rama has just started his ‘sabbatical leave’ at that time.

As vice mayor, Hontiveros he will also preside over the City Council.

He said he will adopt Rama’s leadership in the Council, that is, treating councilors in both the majority and minority groups fairly.

Council vacancy

Hontiveros’ assumption as vice mayor left a vacancy in the City Council.

BARUG PDP-Laban, the administration party, has decided to endorse former councilor Jocelyn Pesquera for the position.

Pesquera currently heads the city’s tourism commission.

She and Labella were colleagues in the Council way back to the time the two of them, and Rama, were still with Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), now the minority group in the Council.

Rama said they will prepare the documents needed for Pesquera to join the Council.

Keep service alive

With Labella’s demise, Rama had to cut his 15-day leave of absence short.

“I could have waited, but I was prevailed upon because there’s just too many documents, too many transactions, too many things that are practically pending that will get involvement of a duly elected mayor. That has to be pursued and service will have to continue,” he said.

Rama’s first order— to keep service alive.

Just like his stand when he was still the full-fledged acting mayor, he assured that there will be “no rocking of the boat” unless he is given the reason to do so.

Rama assigned a management team to oversee City Hall’s 27 departments for a month.

What also needs to be done, he said, is to review the 10- point agenda of Labella.

The city is also preparing for a tribute for the late mayor.- JMO (FREEMAN)