Mike to stick it out with girlfriend Joy Pesquera

CEBU, Philippines - CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama does not want his girlfriend Joy Pesquera to leave despite calls by Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña for him to let go of her.

Rama said that he does not want Pesquera to abandon him.

“No, she (Pesquera) should not do that,” the 56-year-old mayor said when the reporters asked for his comment on Pesquera’s statement that she is ready to leave Cebu City if it would be the only solution to stop the bickering of Rama and Osmeña.

Rama was smiling when he answered the questions of the City Hall reporters, saying “Dili ko makatugot nga talikdan na lang usab ni Joy.” His remarks ignited laughter from among the reporters and City Hall personnel.

It is already an “open secret” that Rama and Pesquera have been lovers since both of them were still city councilors.

Rama’s marriage with Atty. Araceli Rama, an official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, has already been annulled.

Rama, a grandson of Cebu City’s founder Don Vicente Rama, was so hesitant to answers questions that involved his girlfriend and even asked the reporters to stay away from the issue.

Pesquera was involved in the news after Osmeña criticized Rama for allegedly allowing his girlfriend to interfere with the official functions of City Hall despite that she is not officially connected with the city, not even a consultant.

When Rama was asked by The FREEMAN yesterday whether he will continue to allow Pesquera to be involved in City Hall-related matters the mayor said he don’t want to add more to the “unfounded issues.”

But Pesquera had admitted to The FREEMAN that there was a time that she interviewed some City Hall employees upon the instruction of Rama for the purpose of determining their knowledge that will guide them of where they can be assigned to fit their ability. — /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)