CEBU, Philippines - Did Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama conduct a loyalty check on his department heads yesterday?
At least 22 chiefs of several departments at the City Hall yesterday received a message from secretary of department heads Atty. Annie Atay informing them of a 4 p.m. meeting with Rama, according to city veterinarian Dr. Alice Utlang.
"When everybody was at the mayor's office, the mayor said 'those who can help me may remain in my office and those who cannot shall be given five minutes to leave.' Then he went outside. We were not sure what he meant by that," Utlang told The FREEMAN.
True enough, five minutes later, Rama reportedly went back to the office.
Utlang said she clarified with the mayor what he meant by saying "help."
"So he specifically said 'kinsa tong makatabang nako politically, pabilin. Kung kinsa ang dili, ayaw paabota nga ako ang mopagawas ninyo kay kaila biya ko sa inyoha. Kay ang pag-ilis na man lang,'" said Utlang, the chief of the Department of Veterinary and Fisheries (DVMF).
Utlang, City Treasurer Emma Villarete, Human Resource Department Office chief Atty. Evangeline Abatayo, Internal Control Office chief Arlene Rentosa, City Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) chief Fidel Magno and City Legal Officer Atty. Joseph Bernaldez reportedly went out immediately after hearing Rama's statement.
Another department head who wished not be named confirmed the names who walked out from the mayor's office.
"Although the term isn't walkout since it presumes no consent from the one who called the meeting," source told The FREEMAN.
Utlang said she went out because she thought the meeting was purely about work and not politics.
"Abi nako ang iyang pagpatawag was trabaho lang. Pero lahi man iyang gihangyo nga tabang kay political man. Nigawas ko because whoever sits at the City Hall, we will serve. The mayor is the boss so he is our boss. But if political matters na, dili mi mag-apil-apil," she said.
She added that department heads must remain apolitical despite having personal choices during elections. -/LPM (FREEMAN)