Dep't heads asked: Tender resignation

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is allegedly asking all the 22 City Hall department heads to tender their courtesy resignations while each of the more than 5,000 employees has to endure the loyalty check.

Rama, who is scheduled to meet with the department heads as soon as he gets back from Manila, will allegedly ask them to submit their courtesy resignations to give him a free hand to select the people who enjoy his trust and confidence.

The Mayor earlier asked the heads of the different commissions and boards under his office to resign if they cannot work with him. Rama, however, denied asking courtesy resignation from the department heads.

“I did not. I have not met them,” Rama said in a text message sent to The FREEMAN.

The Mayor is said to be conducting loyalty check among the City Hall employees and officials working with him. This after his relationship with South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña has gone sour.

Most of the City Hall officials and employees have been appointed during the term of Osmeña as mayor.

Three City Hall employees who talk on condition of anonymity confirmed the on going loyalty check. The three employees from the Office of the Mayor who refused to answer when asked where their loyalty is, immediately received a memorandum from Rama transferring them to other departments.

According to them, each of the City Hall employees is being asked the question, “Ikaw asa man ka?” They allegedly replied “no comment” because they considered themselves supporters of both Rama and Osmeña.

Two of them are regular employees. They will be reassigned to the city treasurer’s office, while the other one who is a member of the Mayor’s Management Team will be transferred to CENRO.

The incident has worried some City Hall employees because they are caught in the crossfire of the on going political bickering between Rama and Osmeña.

“Naguol gyud mi niini kay supporters man gyud mi nilang duha. Kung pangutan-on mi, aw mo-ingon nalang gyud mi nga naa mi nimo mayor. Alangan naman pud moingon mi nga no comment, basin maparehas niya mi nila nga mabalhin,” an employee said.

Belinda Navascues, secretary to the mayor, said they are now reviewing the records of all employees and submit a recommendation to the mayor.

Rama talked to his consultants last Monday and told them that they are included in the ongoing review and scrutiny of City Hall officials and employees.

Rama said that by July 1, in time for the renewal of contracts and the state of the city address, he will know who are with him and those who are not.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the mayor should not treat them as his “enemy” as they have distanced themselves on the political differences between him and Osmena.

“The council is so cooperative with him. Sa among tan-aw niya karon, mura naman hinuon siya og mangaway namo niini,” Young said. — (FREEMAN)