Before returning government vehicle: Rama sets conditions

CEBU, Philippines — Former Cebu City mayor Mike Rama is ready to return his remaining Cebu City government-issued vehicle, but with the condition that there should be an approved resolution related to the implementation of his dismissal order from the Office of the Ombudsman.

This is in response to the final demand letter from the Cebu City government, sent via its legal office on February 19, 2025, as well as the blotter that was filed over the said unreturned vehicle.

Two vehicles were initially asked to be returned, a Toyota Yaris and a Toyota Hi-Ace Super Grandia. Of the two, Rama's camp returned the Yaris last week.

The CLO then gave Rama 24 hours to return the Toyota Hi-Ace Super Grandia to the Property Management Division of the Department of General Services (DGS).

After the deadline elapsed, DGS acting head, lawyer June Maratas, reported the matter to the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-7 on February 25.

On the same day, Rama, through his legal counsel, Atty. Luis Vera Cruz Jr., sent a reply to the

Cebu City Legal Office's (CLO) final demand letter.

In the letter, Rama’s camp continues to stand its ground that he is still the rightful mayor of Cebu City, contrary to the CLO's stand that he has no “right or authority” to retain a Cebu City-owned vehicle following his dismissal from service. His dismissal was ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman after he was found guilty of nepotism.

“We clarify that, to date, no record shows that the Decision of the Office of the Ombudsman in OMB-V-A-MAY-23-0115 has been implemented, contrary to the rules of the Office of the Ombudsman itself," Rama's legal counsel stressed.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government reiterated in its response to an inquiry on the matter that they are “not privy to the implementation of the said decision.” This is despite its regional office having facilitated the oath-taking of Raymond Garcia as the new mayor.

“Thus, until an order of implementation has been validly served on Mayor Rama, he remains to be the incumbent Mayor of Cebu City and is entitled to the rights attached to the said office, including the possession and use for official business of Cebu City Government’s vehicles, such as the Subject Vehicle.”

Rama’s counsel also disclosed that the former mayor is prepared to return the vehicle “to the People of the City of Cebu, who duly elected him as City Mayor in the 2022 election and whose term will end on June 30, 2025.”

“Mindful enough that government authority emanates from the people and that it is by the people’s election that brings forth the entitlement of Mayor Rama to the Office of the Mayor together with all the remunerations, privileges, benefits, and emoluments, among others," they added.

They further emphasized that there should be proper documentation and compliance with legal procedures for any demand or return of the subject vehicle to the people and their government.

“Whims and caprices have no place in our law and society… Those who wanted to exercise the power that emanates from the people in the guise of a demand letter must exercise the same in accordance with the mandate, without a tinge of oppression and abuse of power and authority," they said.

To expedite the resolution of the matter, Rama’s camp has requested that the City of Cebu, through its executive and legislative departments, “submit a duly passed and approved resolution that demands or requests the Office of the Ombudsman to provide all relevant documents on record, including the fact of service of notice, date and time, mode of service, person serving, and fact of receipt of the Decision of the Ombudsman dated September 9, 2024, in OMB-V-A-MAY-23-0115 and service of the Implementation Order and its actual implementation by the 0mbudsman, among others.”

The CLO had also been requested to act promptly, facilitate, and secure the needed documents from the Ombudsman. —/ATO (FREEMAN)