Not caught in between Rama and Garcia: Dondon just being ‘professional’

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros yesterday said he is just maintaining “professionalism” in performing his legislative duties under acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia while also retaining his support for suspended Mayor Michael Rama.

In an ambush interview with reporters last Monday, he ruled out being caught in between Rama and Garcia, whose political alliance and personal relationship have been strained lately.

This was after Garcia, Rama’s running-mate during the 2022 elections, assumed the position of acting mayor on May 10 right after the Office of the Ombudsman imposed on Rama, City Administrator Collin Rosell, and six others a six-month preventive suspension.

Garcia has since plotted his own policy as acting mayor, particularly by employing diplomacy with the Metro Cebu Water District and the Cebu Port Authority—two organizations that Rama had quarreled with.

In previous interviews, Rama admitted that he was “bothered” by the decisions and policy direction of Garcia, who, on the other hand, argued that Rama’s way did not work so he was changing tact in reaching an amicable solution.

Since then, Rama and Garcia were no longer publicly seen in the same room together and at the same time.

Hontiveros, who assumed the position of acting vice mayor when Garcia became acting mayor, said that despite his vocal support for Rama, he has a smooth-sailing working relationship with Garcia.

In fact, he said, he just had a working lunch with Garcia to discuss the coming executive session for the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center.

“Going back to the question if naipit ko, I’ve been professional, I am friends, of course, with the acting mayor ever since high school; but with regards to the part of the legislative (City Council), mao na among discussion,” Hontiveros said.

The local media asked him the question because he was in attendance during Rama’s most recent press conference at the Casino Español Monday night.

Rama’s supporters attended the event; Basak Pardo Brgy. Captain Dave Tumulak, who ran against Rama in the 2022 elections, was also there.

It was not also the only event that Hontiveros attended Rama was placed under preventive suspension. He was present in every press conference Rama had while serving his suspension, including the so-called Backstage State of the City Address (BaSOCA) last July 4 and the Barug Party-initiated Independence Day celebration at the Plaza Sugbo grounds last June 12.

“Kabalo man gud sila nga si Mayor Mike man gyud ang gahatag nako og…and maoy ga-guide nako. So, it is right that I should be here,” Hontiveros said.

“So wala man gyud ko naipit,” he added. — (FREEMAN)