Cebu City mayor fails to delay admin case

Dale G. Israel

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Cebu City mayor fails to delay admin case
The hearing will continue at 2pm on July 21

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) junked another petition from Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama to postpone hearings on his administrative case pending a ruling on a petition he filed before the Court of Appealsc (CA).

Rama earlier expressed fears that he would also face the fate of Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay, who was forced out of the City Hall due to a preventive suspension order.

A pre-trial conference on Rama’s case was held here on Monday, July 20DILG hearing officer Isidro Barrios said he saw no reason to wait.

“I did not see any restraining order from the CA,” Barrios told legal counsels of all parties during the hearing held at the DILG Central Visayas (DILG-7) office in Sudlon, Lahug.

The trial proper has yet to start, however. They discussed first whether or not they will include in a supplemental case the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA).

The marathon hearings will continue on July 21 at 2 p.m.

Rama and several other city officials are accused of committing grave misconduct and abuse of authority over the release of P84 million to fund calamity aid to government employees – P20,000 each – in the aftermath of back-to-back disasters that hit central Philippines in 2013. 

The Commission on Audit (COA) said no proof was shown that the recipients of the calamity fund were victims of either the 7.2 magnitude earthquake or Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Reymelio Delute, private complainant of the case, said Rama’s petition was a ploy to delay the proceedings to go beyond the ban on suspension of government officials.

It was the second attempt of Rama’s camp to suspend the hearings. They earlier questioned DILG’s jurisdiction over the case.

City lawyer Jerone Castillo had sought to postpone the hearings until September. He also reiterated that they continue to question DILG’s jurisdiction. 

COA wanted the mayor to return the financial aid distributed to the employees. 

Politics has marred the highly-charged case.

The exclusion of council member Margot Osmeña, wife of former Mayor Tommy Osmeña, has raised questions. 

Delute, the private complainant, and his lawyer Ben Militar are known to have close ties with the Osmeñas. 

Former Mayor Osmeña has not made an announcement on his 2016 plans but he has been openly criticizing his former ally. 

Along with Rama, named respondents include Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and City Councilors Nestor Archival, Mary Ann de los Santos, Dave Tumulak, Hanz Abella, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Roberto Cabarrubias, Ma. Nida Cabrera, Gerardo Carillo, Alvin Dizon, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., and Noel Wenceslao. – Rappler.com

 

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