After Gov resigned from PDP: Rama blasts Gwen loyalty

CEBU, Philippines — Suspended Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama yesterday hit back at Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia after she cited his complaint against her as reason for her resignation from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), saying her loyalty to the party was long gone even before their conflict.

This, as Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes also tendered his “irrevocable resignation” as PDP member, a day after Garcia did.

“I am writing to resign as a member of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), effective immediately. This decision stems from my own desire to continue the unity forged under Governor Gwen Garcia and maintain Mandaue under the banner of One Cebu,”

he said in his May 29 letter to PDP president and Palawan Second District Representative Jose Alvarez.

Cortes said that as the mayor of Mandaue City, it is his priority to align with initiatives that promote and serve the community's best interests.

“Thank you for the opportunities and support provided to me during my time with PDP-Laban. I wish the party continued success in all its future endeavors,” he said.

In her May 28 letter addressed to PDP president Palawan Second District Representative Jose Alvarez, Garcia said the complaint that Rama, PDP vice president for the Visayas, filed against her before the Office of the President has created an “irreconcilable conflict.

“While I am confident in the legality and ethical soundness of my actions, the resulting situation, including Mayor Rama's call for my suspension, has made continued association with the party untenable,” the governor said.

Rama’s complaint was for abuse of authority, oppression, grave misconduct, graft, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, when she issued a memorandum to stop civil works of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project.

But the governor’s camp had stated that her memorandum was “an act as a steward of the properties of Cebu province.”

“OMG!!!! Goodness gracious! I was shocked to see the resignation letter of a person I highly doubt fits the title honorable,” Rama said in a Facebook post, as response to Garcia leaving the PDP.

He alleged that Garcia’s resignation came a day after he heard that Malacan?ang has ordered her to submit an answer to the administrative complaint he lodged before the Office of the President regarding her interference in the affairs of Cebu City.

“True or what, I heard that it was a day after Malacañang ordered her to submit an answer to the administrative complaint regarding her interference in the affairs of Cebu City,” Rama said.

“(S)he had the temerity of resigning as a member of PDP but not without using my name in vain,” Rama said.

He said the governor was not being truthful.

“Her loyalty to PDP (I doubt if she had) was long gone even before our recent conflict and that is public knowledge. That resignation letter was simply not truthful,” he said.

“In hindsight, this person never really had any record of having steady political principles. What she stands for is up for us to guess as from time to time that changes. She did not have a steady political compass,” he added.

Rama reiterated that even though she is the governor of Cebu, she has no business in meddling with the affairs of Cebu City.

“She has no business with Cebu City affairs and should just stay out of it. Pagkatoytoy ning Gobernadora,” he said, referring to a local term for “dummy”.

Mayor Rama also defended his administration’s “Singapore-like with Melbourne features” tagline for governance.

“Dili man na sundog, ‘like’ ra man. Besides, Melbourne, 9, Singapore is 42 in Global Rankings. We have not been wrong in using them as benchmark, even Oxford study agrees. Anyway, there is a reason why Manila and Cebu City are included in global rankings.  No other city in these islands,” he said in his post.

“Suya lang sila kay ako nagtrabaho og tarong tripan pa gyud ko nila. Pildi maglagot basta ako tuloy ang Laban. I love my City and I love the people of the city of Cebu,” he added.

The Freeman tried to reach out to Garcia for her reaction but got no response as of press time. — /RHM (FREEMAN)