Suspended Cebu City mayor Mike Rama seeks re-election

Suspended Cebu City mayor Michael "Mike" Rama on Thursday filed his certificate of candidacy to run for the same post in next year's national and local elections.

According to GMA’s Balitang Bisdak, Rama will be running under the banner of Partido Barug with former basketball player and incumbent Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros, who is seeking re-election. 

Rama and Hontiveros were accompanied by their supporters, wearing green and yellow shirts, as they filed at the Comelec office in Cebu City . 

Rama first held the mayoral post from 2010 to 2016. He ran for his third and final term in 2016, but lost to Tomas Osmeña. 

He won as vice mayor in 2019, then took over the mayoral seat in 2021 following the death of then mayor Edgardo Labella. 

Rama and seven others were placed under preventive suspension for six months in May after the Office of the Ombudsman found sufficient grounds to suspend the mayor for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of public officer, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials and employees.

The suspension stemmed from a complaint pursued by four regular employees of the City Assessor's Office who have been reassigned to other offices but unpaid of their salaries and benefits since July 2023.

Rama was also charged with nepotism in September. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News