Rama rewarding allied brgy. heads?

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay captains and councilmen including barangay secretaries and treasurers who are allied with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama received Christmas gift in the form of cash from the latter in his house yesterday.

A source told The FREEMAN that Rama called barangay chiefs and councilmen to the Rama Compound to spend time with the barangay officials and distribute his Christmas gift.

Each captain reportedly received P5,000 while councilmen received P2,500.

Barangay secretaries and treasurers reportedly received P1,500 each.

Rama did not confirm the cash gift, but admitted he called the barangay officials for a little Christmas Party.

“We gathered. It was a Christmas party and that’s it,” Rama said.

Two captains and one councilman interviewed by The FREEMAN  confirmed the cash gift. They however refused to be named.

Other captains refused to discuss the issue.

Those who confirmed said Rama has been doing this for the past few years.

Aside from the cash gift for the officials, Rama also reportedly gave P5,000 each to barangays for their employees’ Christmas Party.

Barangay Captain George Rama of Basak-San Nicolas, the mayor’s cousin, said the mayor gave the barangays something to add to their funds for their Christmas Party.

“Wa ko kabalo unsa o pila kay exempted man ko,” George said.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña, who is running against Mayor Rama in next year’s election, said the cash gift can be considered a bribery.

“If he does this every year, which I know he doesn’t do, then it’s not bribery,” Osmeña said.

He said he will not resort to giving Christmas gifts to the barangay officials like what Rama did.

“I don’t bribe barangay officials. There are so few of them and they won’t share their alleged P10,000 to P20,000 with the people. I have been helping chapels,” Osmeña said.

In August last year though, Osmeña distributed tablet computers to all barangay captains.

It was during the time of Rama that the city government started providing cash allowance to barangay captains, councilmen, secretaries and treasurers.

Each captain receives P5,000 monthly allowance, P3,000 monthly allowance for councilmen and P2,000 for secretaries and treasurers.  —/MBG (FREEMAN)