Rama: Pe move a bad precedent

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama said the move of City Councilor Augustus Pe, Jr. to transfer his voter’s registration to the city’s south district from the north district makes Pe vulnerable to criticisms.

For one, Rama said, Pe’s move reportedly creates a bad precedent because other city councilors might do the same in the future just to hold on to their position. According to him, Pe seems to be toying around his way in government.

Rama said the move may be legally allowable but not morally right.

The FREEMAN tried to reach Pe for comment but to no avail.

Rama said the proper way should have been for Pe to wait for three years before running again if he really wants to continue serving the city.

Pe admitted earlier that he is spending more time in the south district these days to familiarize himself with the communities there.

Rama described this situation as depriving the north district residents of services while creating confusion in the south.

“He is making himself vulnenarable to attacks. Basin nganlan sya’g hakog (he might be accused of being greedy),” Rama said.

But Pe said earlier he cannot be accused of being power hungry because as an official in government, he is more of a servant. He said his motivation in seeking a position in the south is to expand his scope of service.

Last Tuesday, Pe applied for a transfer of voter’s registration, which the Election Registration Board will decide on come July 16.

Being a registered voter is one of the pre-election requirements of the Commission on Elections for someone to qualify as a candidate. Pe must also be a resident of the south district for at least one year prior to the elections.

Pe said he has been living in Guadalupe since 2009.

Election Officer for the South Edwin Cadungog said Pe’s transfer of registration should not be linked to his plan to run for public office because anyone has the right to transfer his registration. The filing of candidacy on October is a separate matter, Cadungog said, so the public must not speculate that the councilor will run.

Accoccording to Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Pe doesn’t have to resign as a councilor of the north even if he transfers his registration to the south. — (FREEMAN)