The Office of the Ombudsman has found suspended Cebu City mayor Michael Rama guilty of nepotism and grave misconduct.

In a ruling dated September 25, 2024, the Ombudsman has meted Rama the “penalty of dismissal from the service which shall carry with it cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits except for accrued leave credits, and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government service.”

“In the event that the penalty of dismissal can no longer be enforced due to respondent’s separation from the service, the same shall be converted into a fine equivalent to respondent’s salary for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and may be deductible from respondent’s accrued leave credits or any receivables from his office,” the decision further reads. 

Rama’s legal team has not issued a statement as they are yet to receive a copy of the decision. 

In January 2023, a complaint was filed against Rama for 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."

On October 3, 2024, Rama filed his Certificate of Candidacy at Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City as reelectionist for mayor.