CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is facing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for administering the oath of a mayoralty candidate in one of the towns in Leyte under the United Nationalist Alliance. The candidate, according to the complaint, is a drug personality in Leyte and is related to a known drug personality here in Cebu.
The anonymous complaint received by the anti-graft body on Friday accused Rama of committing "unethical act to the public."
"Mayor Rama did this when it is public knowledge that … is a big drug lord in Leyte and the father of a known member of the Jaguar gang based in Duljo, Cebu City," the complaint reads.
Rama defended his administering the oath of the alleged drug lord, saying he is the regional chairman of UNA.
The mayor said he did not also know the candidate's alleged involvement in illegal drugs and said the case was not a big deal to him.
The candidate whose name is being withheld by The Freeman is reportedly a second degree cousin by affinity of Rama and has been reportedly seen often at the Rama Compound where the mayor resides.
"In filing this complaint which I should obviously remain anonymous for my personal safety and that of my family, I am fervently hoping that the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman would initiate an investigation," the complainant explains in the letter. — with Iris Algabre/FPL