CEBU, Philippines — Despite the commotion that happened at the Cebu City Hall last Nov. 8, when former city administrator Collin Rosell tried to return and got arrested instead, the camp of dismissed mayor Michael Rama is standing firm that he would be coming back.
Rosell, a lawyer, on the other hand, is crying injustice and would be filing multiple complaints against sitting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia.
In a press conference, Rosell and Atty. Mikel Rama, son of former mayor Rama, reiterated the same message: Rama is back as Cebu City mayor and that Rosell, the position being “coterminous”, would also return as city administrator.
But despite it being the supposed purpose of the press conference, no concrete answer was provided as to when Rama would really start working again as mayor, despite reiterations on his comeback.
No answer was also given as to where Rama is right now, if he has already returned from his honeymoon in France.
Instead, Rosell and Mikel just reiterated that the six-month preventive suspension slapped against Rama, Rosell, Rosell’s wife Theresa, and five other City Hall officials by the Office of the Ombudsman on May 10 has already lapsed.
This means, they said, that Rosell, in particular, could already return to City Hall as city administrator.
This, despite the Office of the Ombudsman decision last month finding Rama guilty of grave misconduct for committing nepotism by hiring his two brothers-in-law from January to December 2022.
Rama’s camp maintained the decision has not been served to mayor Rama so Garcia’s assumption as mayor last Oct. 9 is invalid.
During the press conference yesterday, Mikel and Rosell announced that they would be filing complaints against Garcia; Police Colonel Antonietto Cañete, who handcuffed Rosell; John Does of the Cebu City Police Office; Police Major John Lynbert Castigador, Police Station 3 station commander, and his personnel; Atty. Kristine Joyce Batucan, city administrator; and Atty. Santiago L. Ortiz, the Cebu City Legal Officer.
Rosell filed the complaints of Arbitrary Detention under Article 124 of the Revised Penal Code; Unlawful Arrest under Article 269 of the Revised Penal Code; Tumultuous Disturbance under Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code; Physical Injuries under Article 266 of the Revised Penal Code; Grave Threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code; Grave Coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code; and Malicious Mischief under Article 327 of the Revised Penal Code.
They likewise filed complaints of Violation of Republic Act No. 11983 or the New Philippine Passport Act, Violation of Republic Act No. 8484 as amended by Republic Act No. 11449 or Access Device Regulation Act of 1998, Violation of Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Act; Grave Misconduct; Gross Neglect of Duty and Grave Abuse of Authority (with Prayer for Damages and Issuance of Preventive Suspension Order).
These complaints were filed yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman - Visayas.
Rosell said the Rosell, the inclusion of child abuse charges stemmed from his role as a provider for five minors, as well as for five others who are now in college.
“Pero gikuha man nila ang tanan nako nga bahandi nga diin pwede nako isuporta gikan sa akong kwarta, hangtod sa akong pitaka, hangtod sa tanan nakong credit card ug uban pa, so unsa may mahitabo sa akong pamilya ug sa tanan nakong gibuhi?” he said.
Rosell said these items, his personal belongings, were still in the possession of the police personnel who took them from him when he was arrested on Nov. 8 at the vacated mayor’s office. He stated that these personal belongings included his laptop, power banks, and passports, among others.
Last Monday, the office remained locked, with Mayor Garcia stating that it would be kept in its current state pending the investigation.
“Kato pa gani pa- release nako, niingon ko nga kuhaon nako, niingon sila nga naa sa City Hall, ug nisulti ang taga-City Hall, naa man koy tawo didto, nga ipa-release to, nya di gyud nila ganahan i-release kay ilaha gyung huptan gyud,” Rosell said.
He said he considered this another form of child abuse and neglect, noting that it affected his ability to provide for his family.
“Lisod na kaayo imong kinabuhi, giposasan pa ka, gidakop pa ka, pagkatapos mangutang pa ka, manghangyo pa ka, grabe na nang pagyaga-yaga,” he said.
Rosell claimed that these belongings, especially his banking cards, were taken from him during his arrest to allegedly prevent him from posting bail and to strip him of any aid. He also mentioned that he was unable to make a call since his phone was among those left at the City Hall.
In addition, Mikel, who visited Rosell when he was brought to the police station, said that even after Rosell had been detained, they were not informed of the grounds for his arrest.
Mikel said it became "clearer" to them that there allegedly was no intent to file charges, which would allow Rosell to post bail. As a result, Mikel said they submitted a petition for bail in the absence of a formal complaint at that time.
“Ang katingalahan kaayo kay how many days nga naka-file sila sa case, and in the afternoon pa gyud. Tuesday pa gyud,” said Mikel.
Over this, he added, there was an intent to “harass” Rosell, who was detained in the evening of Nov. 8 and was released at noon time the next day.
Rosell labeled what happened to him as a “warrantless arrest” and alleged that the armed officers just barged into the “Mayor Rama’s office” where he was holding office as “city administrator”.
Mikel further said that the intent for Rosell’s arrest was to “humiliate” him.
Garcia, last Monday, announced that Batucan has already filed the complaint of Usurpation of Authority against Rosell. The case was because Rosell issued a memorandum addressed to the Civil Security Unit, declaring his return as city administrator with Rama as mayor.
Rosell, however, said yesterday that he is yet to get a copy of the complaint.
“Kung naa man sad gani na siya (complaint), katawa ta ana kay sa ato pa, mo-file ka’g usurpation, si mayor Rama, buot pasabot, di na mayor? Nya tuman gyud na gud sa imong gusto,” he said.
“Nya mag-usurpation ka, ikaw maoy city administrator; mag-usurpation ka sa acting city administrator? Kadakong malas ana,” he added.
Garcia previously announced that Batucan is the formal complainant since it was her position that was accordingly usurped by Rosell.
On Rama’s dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office, Mikel said it is always their position there was no implementation of the decision of the Ombudsman.
He said that since his father is still the “mayor” of Cebu City, Rosell and all others who were holding coterminous positions during the Rama administration are also back in their respective position.
“Kinsa may nag-ingon nga naputol na ang termino ni Mayor Mike Rama?” Mikel said.
He added that the Ombudsman decision is supposed to be furnished to all parties, but this does not mean that the decision has already been executed.
Mikel also said that there should be notification of the implementation of the decision, adding that it is right of all parties to get “due process”.
He likewise said that they have been doing their “due diligence” by writing to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Office of the Ombudsman- Visayas. as early as October 18, to request the documents.— /RHM (FREEMAN)