Rama seeks clarification

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s legal team has filed a “manifestation with motion for clarification” with the Office of the Ombudsman in Manila and in Cebu on an alleged claim made by Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia over a supposed decision on Rama’s nepotism case.

A copy of the manifestation secured by The Freeman stated that Rama received information from various sources that in an event attended by Cebu City south district barangay captains last Friday, Garcia “allegedly claimed to have purportedly read a decision regarding the instant case.”

Rama further alleged that Garcia “accordingly also disclosed that a penalty of dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding public office” is imposed on him (Rama) as a result of the complaint, which was filed by Inday Josa Chongbian Osmen~a, whose real name is Jonel B. Saceda, before the Office of the Ombudsman.

A barangay captain also told The Freeman that Garcia indeed made the claim in a meeting at Montebello Villa Hotel.

The Freeman sought Garcia’s side on the matter but he has not responded as of press time.

Rama’s legal team is perplexed how and why Garcia was able to gain access to inside information from the Ombudsman, if indeed it is true, because copies of such internal correspondence are reserved only to officials and employees of the said office.

Rama’s legal team also pointed out that Garcia “is not even a party to the instant case or stands in a manner as to be adversely affected by the instant proceedings.”

“Such access if true is considered as alarming and tarnishes the ability of the Ombudsman to view the case with the cold neutrality of an impartial judge and even indicate a violation of the guarantee in the OMB Rules on the confidentiality of proceedings and no publicity will have to be made before a final action,” stated Rama’s manifestation.

" It would be the height of imprudence if Acting Mayor Garcia was, indeed, furnished a ‘copy’ of this Honorable Office's draft documents even before they are disclosed to the parties themselves, going by the information Mayor Rama received,” it added.

With this, Rama’s legal team hoped for an internal investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman on its employees who could have given “unauthorized access to third-party individuals over confidential internal correspondence.”

Aside from that, Rama’s legal team also finds its irregular for the Ombudsman to reach such a “decision,” if indeed it is true, as Rama has not received any order or resolution on such.

In a press conference yesterday, Atty. Collin Rosell, with other lawyers of the RBTA law office, including Atty. Joselito Thomas Baena and Rama’s eldest son, Mikel, expressed deep concern on this, saying it is not the first time that rumors and even advanced information had been spread out even before an order can be served, just like during Rama’s preventive suspension.

“Dili ganahan ang mga Sugbuanon ana. Dili sila ganahan nga himoa’g istorya nga ang ilang paglaom imong pagapagngon,” he said, as he wondered about Garcia’s supposed intention in making the claim and the power he wields.

Rosell was referring to the six-month preventive suspension imposed by the Ombudsman on Rama; him (Rosell, as city administrator); and six others last May after four City Hall employees complained against them over the non-payment of their salaries for 10 months.

In the same press conference yesterday, Mikel said getting any information from the Office of the Ombudsman is not easy and that before anyone else, any decisions should go first to the involved parties of the case and not to anyone else.

“Maong it’s so alarming nga there are claims of information leaked to the public,” he said, adding that they have regularly monitored the case. — (FREEMAN)