Rama denies reports he abands his political allies

CEBU, Philippines — Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama refuted reports he is abandoning allies, saying it’s the other way around.

Rama, in a press conference at the City Sports Club yesterday, showed a folder which he said, bears the names of possible candidates under their party, the Partido Barug-Team Rama.

This came after his running mate in the last election, acting mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, and Councilor Jun Alcover seemed to abandon him after Rama mentioned some possible candidates under his lineup in the next elections.

Rama said he has been trying to keep in touch with them, but his phone calls were left unanswered.

“Pa file-la lang sa sila… Inig file, ato dayong tan-awon… Survey dayon mi... inig survey namo, di naman ni kadaog sila... awayon pa ba? Tuo mong namiya ko... wala... Apil pa na silas akong lista… Mao’ng sakitan ko… Unsay naa nila karon? Di naman sila makahinumdum Naa pa diri, oh. Pero di naman sila manubag telepono nako... Sige ko’g tawag… Kuyawan na ko… Naay usa, sige pa’g tubag, wala na… Nay kuyog Manila, pagbalik, di na manubag… For God’s sake, ayaw gani mo paghilas-hilas… di sad ko ganahan mamuyboy,” Rama said.

Rama has a shortlist of possible candidates for the midterm elections next year, but said they will be presenting their final lineup in another press conference.

Rama said he wants to face them for a debate at the right time and venue, but only after a survey. Right now, Rama is keeping his fingers crossed that his preventive suspension will come to an end.

Last month, the Supreme Court acted on the petition filed by Rama, requiring Ombudsman Samuel Martires and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to file their comments after Rama's camp filed a petition to reverse the preventive suspension imposed on Rama and seven other City Hall officials.

Mayor Rama’s eldest son, Mikel Rama, who is also a lawyer, said they are still waiting for an update after the 10-day deadline for the respondents to reply already lapsed.

“We are still waiting to be furnished nga maabot na na namo para makit-an namo, pero mapasalamaton kaayo mi nga gidungog o gihatagan g’yud ug dakong importansya nga dili ra basta-basta nga composition sa Supreme Court but the highest, the Supreme Court en banc. Meaning, they really recognized sa importansya aning kasuha dili lang sa local but sa national and for the future of our legal system,” he said.

The suspended mayor said he is excited for what’s to come.

“We are under the rule of law and I love the rule of law… And I respect the rule of law, but please do not abuse your authority... the Supreme court, I have always looked up to them with utmost respect, the court of last resort… I am very excited in behalf of all the people of Cebu who had been deprived of my having preventively suspended, and all those who have been preventively suspended in the entire country,” he said. — (FREEMAN)