Council urged: Release copy of SRP ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the National Bureau of Investigation to look into his supposed signature on the controversial SRP Ordinance that he unknowingly signed.

Rama yesterday asked the City Council to release the copy of the Ordinance No. 2332 otherwise known as the “Ordinance Protecting the SRP and its Stakeholders from Unlawful and Unauthorized Transactions and Dealings” for the NBI to examine his supposed signature.

Belinda Navascues, Rama’s secretary, has already made a formal request to the council for a copy of the ordinance.

According to Rama, if the council has nothing to hide it should release the copy of the ordinance for purposes of examination. Rama wants the NBI to check the authenticity of his signature on it.

The mayor was earlier surprised to learn that he has signed the ordinance early this month despite making public pronouncements to veto the same. He still registered his disapproval of the ordinance though by sending a veto message to the city council.

Rama believes that the NBI will give light to suspicions that his signature may have been forged. It will also help the mayor’s office correct flaws in the system, if there is any.

Rama said that Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young should mind his own office and leave the mayor’s office in its search for what have gone wrong.

“This is my office. This is my concern,” Rama said.

Young earlier said in a newspaper report that the mayor need not ask the NBI to investigate the matter because the council has already overridden his veto.

“I don’t mind if they have overridden it. The concern here is system’s improvement,” Rama said.

Rama said that there are circumstantial evidence that gives them doubt as to the authenticity of the signature.  (FREEMAN)