DAVAO CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman on May 8 issued a six-month preventive suspension against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and seven other Cebu City Hall officials.
The complaint against Rama reportedly stemmed from the complaint lodged by Filomena E. Atuel, Maria Almicar E. Dionggzon, Sybil Ann R. Ybañez, and Chito B. Dela Cerna, who was reassigned to the City Assessor’s Office on May 17, 2023, and their salaries were only paid in January 2024.
The concerned employees appealed to the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
The affected employees filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for Grave Misconduct, Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Officer, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, Grave Abuse of Authority (Oppression), and Violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The ten-page resolution signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martirez, stated that the anti-graft body found probable cause to place Rama and seven other officials under preventive suspension to pave the way to the formal investigation.
But Rama said he was not aware of the complaint and he refused to give further comments as he has yet to receive the order.
Rama is the second official to get a suspension for issuing a permit and allowing Hugpong ng Maisug Rally in Cebu City which was attended by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
It can be recalled that Davao del Norte Governor Edwin I. Jubahib, who also issued a permit to the same group was slapped with a 60-day preventive suspension starting April 11.
Rama and Jubahib were the only officials outside Davao City who issued permits for Duterte’s group to hold rallies in their locality.
In December 2015, the Office of the President ordered a 60-day preventive suspension on Rama for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and oppression but he reported back to office on February 8, 2016.
