Mike appoints new city attorney

CEBU, Philippines - Re-elected Mayor Michael Rama appointed a new city attorney to replace lawyer Joey Bernaldez who resigned last month.

Atty. Jerone Castillo got Rama’s approval after the mayor was convinced that he is worthy to head the City Legal Office.

Castillo started working for the City Legal Office in 2005 and has since handled major cases involving the City Government like the Rallos and Mahiga cases.

The mayor explained that the next city attorney must be someone already familiar with the job.

“Nganung mangita pa man ta’s gawas? Daghan na nag participation sa cases nga involved ang city,” Rama told reporters.

Required characteristic of the new city attorney, according to Rama, include being “loyal, intellectual and zealous.”

Castillo’s biggest challenge is to run the office as a private law firm in terms of efficiency and delivery of service.

“I plan to suggest that the legal office employees wear corporate attire,” the mayor added.

He also stressed that being part of the City Legal Office means one is fighting for public funds, which is different from that of private practice.

Rama added that he will leave it to Castillo to assess or decide if more lawyers are needed to be hired as he starts his second term.

Bernaldez was one of the six department heads who left ahead of fellow department heads in a meeting with Rama before the May 13 election.

Among the six, the former city attorney was the only one who had a co-terminus status.

Other department heads like City Veterinarian Dr. Alice Utlang and Department of Manpower and Development Program (DMDP) chief Fidel Magno earlier stressed they are not leaving their position.  (FREEMAN)