Rama insists on P10 million SUV

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael really wants the P10-million bullet-proofed, bomb-proofed "Land Cruiser" purchased, saying it is not just for him but also for the future chief executives of the city.

He confirmed this as questions and negative reactions mount against the request to buy the vehicle, which the City Council approved in its session Wednesday this week.

Yesterday, he told The Freeman via Zoom, as he is still on vacation in Australia, that while he has survived so many challenges in the past, this is no longer a time to be complacent.

“Dili lang ta mokompiyansa..kay naa naa ra bay giingon nga uwahi na ang pagbasol,” Rama said.

He said the purchase of a bulletproof car has always been a desire of the country's mayors in their discussions, because of past ambush incidents against colleagues.

“And I should know this because I am the president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, been a president of the Vice Mayor’s League (of the Philippines), and we have discussed this...regarding the safety of mayors in the entire country,” he said.

Last Wednesday, the City Council endorsed during its regular session City Councilor Noel Wenceslao’s resolution requesting the procurement of a bullet-proofed and bomb-proofed vehicle for the mayor’s use.

City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, who was not around during the said session, raised his concern over the purchase last Thursday, saying it is “extravagant” and “out of character,” as he thought Rama would not make such a “grandiose” request.

“This is very unlike the character of Mayor Rama…. This is way too extravagant,” he said, adding that had he been present during the session he would have asked for a justification of the request.

“I am hopeful that the mayor will reconsider. Basin wa niya mabantayi lang ni, nga maybe his people were eager lang kaayo to please the mayor nga mao ni ilang gi-request,” the councilor said.

But in an Oct. 6, 2023 letter-request addressed to Department of Interior and Local Government-7 Director Leocadio Trovela, Rama stated that aside from P6,582,931 for a brand new SUV, he also wants P3,450,000 for bullet-proofing and bomb-proofing of the vehicle.

With the City Council’s endorsement, the request to purchase the SUV would now be forwarded to the DILG for its approval.

Yesterday, Rama said he had been using a borrowed bulletproof vehicle. He, however, did not say from whom.

“Naa koy duha ka buok bulletproof nga sakyanan, sa pagkatinuod…. Katong usa nga sakyanan, nabuak ang samin. Ikaduha, lahi diay nang mga sakyanan nga imong i-convert into bullet-proofed, lahi na,” the mayor said.

“Mao na ang ending…ang usa ka sakyanan dili ako, gamit-gamit nako. Ang ending, ambot unsang sakyanana, nadasmag…. Akong gisulti sa akong (city) administrator, nga before ta mangamatay aning kalakiha, tan-awa unsay maayo nga sakyanan,” he added.

Rama said he would rather play it safe because unlike in the past, he could no longer put his guard down in our current time, because there could be people who are not pleased with his pronouncements, particularly on corruption issues and the recovery of the three-meter easement of the city’s rivers.

“Ang ato ra bang pirming pronouncement, may pagka-isog ra ba ‘ta’g mga pronouncements…. Ikaduha, ang atong mga activities—storm, aggressive, massive,” he said.

Rama insists on P10 million SUV

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael really wants the P10-million bullet-proofed, bomb-proofed "Land Cruiser" purchased, saying it is not just for him but also for the future chief executives of the city.

He confirmed this as questions and negative reactions mount against the request to buy the vehicle, which the City Council approved in its session Wednesday this week.

Yesterday, he told The Freeman via Zoom, as he is still on vacation in Australia, that while he has survived so many challenges in the past, this is no longer a time to be complacent.

“Dili lang ta mokompiyansa..kay naa naa ra bay giingon nga uwahi na ang pagbasol,” Rama said.

He said the purchase of a bulletproof car has always been a desire of the country's mayors in their discussions, because of past ambush incidents against colleagues.

“And I should know this because I am the president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, been a president of the Vice Mayor’s League (of the Philippines), and we have discussed this...regarding the safety of mayors in the entire country,” he said.

Last Wednesday, the City Council endorsed during its regular session City Councilor Noel Wenceslao’s resolution requesting the procurement of a bullet-proofed and bomb-proofed vehicle for the mayor’s use.

City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, who was not around during the said session, raised his concern over the purchase last Thursday, saying it is “extravagant” and “out of character,” as he thought Rama would not make such a “grandiose” request.

“This is very unlike the character of Mayor Rama…. This is way too extravagant,” he said, adding that had he been present during the session he would have asked for a justification of the request.

“I am hopeful that the mayor will reconsider. Basin wa niya mabantayi lang ni, nga maybe his people were eager lang kaayo to please the mayor nga mao ni ilang gi-request,” the councilor said.

But in an Oct. 6, 2023 letter-request addressed to Department of Interior and Local Government-7 Director Leocadio Trovela, Rama stated that aside from P6,582,931 for a brand new SUV, he also wants P3,450,000 for bullet-proofing and bomb-proofing of the vehicle.

With the City Council’s endorsement, the request to purchase the SUV would now be forwarded to the DILG for its approval.

Yesterday, Rama said he had been using a borrowed bulletproof vehicle. He, however, did not say from whom.

“Naa koy duha ka buok bulletproof nga sakyanan, sa pagkatinuod…. Katong usa nga sakyanan, nabuak ang samin. Ikaduha, lahi diay nang mga sakyanan nga imong i-convert into bullet-proofed, lahi na,” the mayor said.

“Mao na ang ending…ang usa ka sakyanan dili ako, gamit-gamit nako. Ang ending, ambot unsang sakyanana, nadasmag…. Akong gisulti sa akong (city) administrator, nga before ta mangamatay aning kalakiha, tan-awa unsay maayo nga sakyanan,” he added.

Rama said he would rather play it safe because unlike in the past, he could no longer put his guard down in our current time, because there could be people who are not pleased with his pronouncements, particularly on corruption issues and the recovery of the three-meter easement of the city’s rivers.

“Ang ato ra bang pirming pronouncement, may pagka-isog ra ba ‘ta’g mga pronouncements…. Ikaduha, ang atong mga activities—storm, aggressive, massive,” he said. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/RHM