Does the City of Cebu have two mayors now that the six-month preventive suspension of Mayor Michael Rama is over?

Tension ensued in the City Hall on Friday, November 8, 2024 when the camp of dismissed mayor Rama insisted that he is the legitimate mayor.

Atty. Collin Rosell had an altercation with the staff members at City Hall when he was refused entry into the office assigned to him as city administrator under Rama’s leadership.

Atty. Rosell also told police to maintain distance while he tried to explain his side on his return to the office.

He said that because the preventive suspension is over, he goes back to work and describes his return as “official.”

As his office was padlocked, he settled at the Office of the City Mayor along with his supporters to fulfill his tasks as city administrator.

However, Cebu City Legal Officer Santiago Ortiz, Jr. reported the incident at the Waterfront Police Station. 

In a post on Cebu City News & Information, official news portal of the Cebu City Government, Ortiz filed a blotter to document Rosell’s alleged unauthorized entry into the City Hall and the issuance of a memorandum, despite "no longer holding the position of city administrator."

According to Ortiz, Rosell’s actions could "potentially disrupt official operations at City Hall, as he is no longer authorized to make administrative decisions on behalf of the city. The blotter filing serves as a formal complaint, intended to address and prevent further unauthorized actions within City Hall’s premises."

Rama, however, did not report that day at the City Hall because he is reportedly still on honeymoon outside of the country. But his camp said Rama intends to lead the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, November 11, 2024.

Rama’s camp has refused to acknowledge the decision of the Ombudsman on Rama’s dismissal from service as they are yet to receive a copy of the said resolution.

Rama’s legal team argued that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s installation of Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia into office as mayor of Cebu City is “illegal.”

In line with this, Rama’s legal team filed a case for graft against Garcia and the DILG 7 regional director who himself installed Garcia as mayor.

As for Cebu City Mayor Garcia, he stands firm on the legality of his assumption to office as the procedure was facilitated by the DILG based on an order by the Office of the Ombudsman.

DILG 7 Director Leocadio Trovela officiated Garcia’s oathtaking on October 9, 2024.

Rama’s supporters staged a rally outside of the City Hall, and attempted to enter the edifice.

Personnel of the Cebu City Police Office stopped the supporters from getting any farther into the building.

Garcia ordered the observance of maximum tolerance, and at the same time called on Rama’s camp to avoid going rowdy that would hamper delivery of City Hall services.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak tried to get a statement from the DILG, but the concerned official is not yet available.

However, Director Trovela had already said earlier that what they had implemented is an order from the Ombudsman; it being legitimate makes Garcia a "full-fledged mayor."

(With information courtesy of Cebu City News & Information/PIO)