Mayor Rama rejects body search proposal

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has rejected the proposal subjecting City Hall employees to a body search and their belongings will be scrutinized.

The proposal, made by City Hall security guards, was floated after a series of burglaries inside the offices.

Rama said he does not like the proposal although he wants to talk with City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete over the matter. 

He said the proposal would only result in congestion at the entrance of the City Hall.

The mayor said he wanted to implement strict security measures against those who bring in deadly weapons.

City Hall guards wanted to record those employees bringing out laptops and other City Hall properties.

But Rama said: “Ah, kanang mga laptop duna man kana’y memorandum receipts, kon mawala ila na kanang problema.”

About the report of the guards that City Hall building superintendent Emeliano Cruz stayed at his office and used the air-conditioning unit of his office at night, Rama said he already instructed Poblete to investigate the matter.

Rama said he wants to know why Cruz is staying at the City Hall after office hours. Cruz admitted that the air-conditioning unit in his office is functioning 24 hours.

He explained that there are two air-conditioning units in his office, situated on the ground floor of the City Hall building.

“Duha kini ka air-con ang diha diri pero gituyo ni pagbutang kay banus-banoson man kini paggamit kay dili man mahimong pagngan og air-con kining heavy-duty Uninterrupted Power Supply nga nia gibutang sa akong opisina,” Cruz explained.

According to Cruz, all City Hall offices have connections to the P1.8 million-worth UPS, which is intended for computers for continued power supply during brownouts.

“Dia ra usab ko miistar sa City Hall aron nga kon dunay dinalian nga panginahanglan dia dayon ko. Apan walay problema kon dili na itugot nga mag stay-in ko,” Cruz told The FREEMAN.

Rama blamed the guards on their report that Cruz sometimes brings some friends to his office at night.

“Nganong pasudlon man nila, ila na nga sala.” — (FREEMAN)