MCWD, cpa file complaints before op, Ombudsman: Cases rain on Rama

CEBU, Philippines — Officials of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) and the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) have taken their respective battles against Cebu City government officials, including Mayor Michael Rama, to the Ombudsman and the Office of the President after filing separate complaints yesterday, April 29, 2024.

The MCWD board, led by Chairman Joey Daluz III and General Manager Edgar Donoso, filed criminal and administrative complaints against Rama and other city government officials for allegedly breaking into MCWD’s office earlier this month.

Daluz and Donoso, alongside other board members and MCWD officials, personally went to the Office of the Ombudsman in Cebu City to file the complaints against Cebu City Administrator Collin Rosell, Local Finance Committee Chief Jerone Castillo, and Cebu City Legal Officer Vincent Carlo Gimena.

Also included in the case were Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management head Harold Alcontin, and Head of Cebu City Traffic and Transportation Office (CCTO) Raquel Arce.

The complaint against Rama, on the other hand, was filed before the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-7 and was addressed to the Office of the President.

The complaints filed against all officials include grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and oppression, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and conduct unbecoming of a public official.

Apart from that, violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees was also included, as well as violation of section 3(e) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as amended, Trespassing under Article 281 and Grave Coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code.

The filing stemmed from the alleged breaking in of the city government led by the above-mentioned officials where the doors of MCWD office were “forcibly opened” last April 15, 2024.

The MCWD officials said they filed the same complaints against Rama who they believe “released the order to takeover MCWD.”

“He (Rama) was on top of it. We have some videos that showed that he was really on top of it,” said Daluz.

In an interview yesterday, Daluz told the media that they have decided to file the complaints “for the sake” and to “protect” the MCWD management.

Despite previously saying that Rama has denied that he was part of the entry, Daluz said the video they obtained was “clear” that the mayor propagated the order.

“Niingon sya nga go, go, go na, unsa pa may gipaabot ninyo? Gusto pa mog akoy muanha dira? Go, Dalogdog, Attorney Collin, go inside na, ingon sya, gipraktisan ta ni, klaroha sa video,” Daluz echoed referring to the said video they allegedly obtained.

Sought for his reaction, Rama told The Freeman that he has yet to see a copy of the complaint so he will not comment for now. He, however, said that he will leave the matter to the lawyers.

As for the allegations that he was caught in a video ordering the entry of the officials inside MCWD, Rama said “I do not have the idea but I want to take a look at it.”

He, however, questioned the capacity of Daluz and Donoso to file the said complaints since they have been suspended by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

LWUA has slapped a six-month suspension order against Daluz, other board members Jodelyn Mae Seno and Miguelito Pato, while Donoso was issued with 90-days suspension.

Donoso has previously claimed that he has yet to receive the suspension notice. According to him, he wasn’t given time to respond prior the suspension.

Further, one of the respondents, Gimena, in a text message to The Freeman also said he will just wait for the official copy of the complaint from the Ombudsman.

“So I can properly file my Counter-Affidavit and other pleadings and motions,” he said.

The Freeman also reached out to Castillo and Rosell who have yet to respond as of this writing.

Rosell, Gimena, along with the other officials mentioned, were reportedly among those who assisted then LWUA’s appointed General Manager (GM) Officer-in-charge (OIC), lawyer John Dx Lapid, who was barred entry from the MCWD office.

A day after, Lapid resigned from his post as OIC GM.

Meanwhile, the CPA has also filed an administrative complaint against Rama before the Office of the President through the DILG-7.

Based on CPA’s post on their Facebook account, the complaints filed are Violation of Administrative Order No. 23, s. of 1992 for oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence, or dereliction of duty and abuse of authority “following the acts of impermissible encroachment into the territorial jurisdiction of CPA, deliberate and flagrant disregard of CPA’s authority, and obstinate disobedience and resistance to the Writ of Preliminary Injunction granted by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10.”

A 34-page complaint was filed by CPA Officials at the DILG-7 Regional Office in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)