The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to indict suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for nepotism. 

In a resolution, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Rama for three counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 

Rama’s spokesperson, Atty. Joselito Thomas Baena, in a post pointed out that:

"Yes, we already received a copy of the Resolution of the Ombudsman and the Mayor’s legal team is already working on Mayor Rama’s Motion for Reconsideration.

"We are ready to take this latest Resolution head on, and we are confident that Mayor Rama will attain justice.

"Mayor Rama will file his Certificate of Candidacy, as scheduled, and we lawyers agree, that only God can stop him.

"As Mayor Rama said, it is not over until it is over.""""

Rama's official Facebook account, "MIke Rama," was tagged in the post. 

In January 2023, a complaint was filed against Rama for alleged nepotism before the Ombudsman in relation to the employment of his wife’s brothers as casual employees of the City Hall. 

The complainant, Jonel Saceda, who uses the handle “Inday Josa Chiongbian Osmeña” in social media, cited the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits the mayor from appointing to office relations up to the third degree. 

The complainant asked the Ombudsman in Quezon City to suspend Rama preventively while the complaint was being resolved. 

Atty. Collin Rosell, then secretary to the mayor, said in an interview in January 2023 that the two employees in question were already employed at City Hall long before Rama married their sister in October 2021, when he was still vice mayor.

"Probisyon sad sa balaod nga kining mayor o si bisan kinsa nga public official dili man tanan nga against nga paryente nimo imong ma-hire, puwede man ka'g adunay confidential employee…mao man nay ilang ipamutang nga co-terminus,” Atty. Rosell said. 

However, the Ombudsman cited that Rama's explanation that he was “surreptitiously made to sign the plantilla of casual appointments,” for the said two brothers of his wife, was “unsubstantiated."