Class suit pushed

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday called on those other officials all from over the country who, like him, were also placed under preventive suspension to band together and file a “class suit” over what happened to them.

In a press conference with Cebu media via Zoom, he said there are elected officials who are also victims of injustice.

“Ilan pa kaya?  kaya I wish I can connect (with them). Yung mga elected na pareha sa situation ko…. Not just a legal suit but a class suit of those who are similarly situated like me,” Rama said.

“Injustice is committed on me and I am now organizing and leading all those suspended (officials) to come in and file a complaint or perhaps a lawsuit,” he added.

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed Rama, City Administrator Collin Rosell, City Assessor Theresa Rosell (Rosell’s wife), and five others were placed under a six-month preventive suspension starting last May.

This was over the complaint of four City Hall employees who were not paid their salaries and other receivables for 10 months.

The Ombudsman last month denied Rama’s motions to have the suspension lifted. He remains optimistic, though, that he would get what he asked for.

“I still believe, justice will be served but becoming delayed. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

He said that the Ombudsman decision violated his basic rights.

Asked about his trust and confidence with the justice system in the country, Rama said it needs to be made right again.

“They should mend, they should mend, so that I could think and defend that there is justice in this country,” he said.

Atty. Joselito Thomas Baena, Rama’s lawyer, however, said that what they would file is not against the government of the country but against someone else.

“Dili na against (the) government ‘guro; more of defense," he said.

Meanwhile, on the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) removing him as the executive president, Rama said he would like that it would have a formal and official turnover ceremony.

He also told the same press conference that he wished that Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who replaced him, would continue working towards achieving that which they have set out for the league to accomplish.

“I have no qualms in having my ever-reliable and dedicated executive vice president taking the lead. Mayor Joy Belmonte has always been a team player and a truly inspirational mayor of Quezon City. I wish and pray that the league will continue to move under the compass of its duly formulated strategic plans,” Rama said.

He said that during his tenure as LCP executive president for almost two years, he remained committed to the mission, which focuses on the welfare and development of all the cities in the country.

Rama said he wished that the LCP should not be used as a tool in promoting the interest of any institution, agency, or instrumentality.

“I can anticipate and surmise any similar action to transpire. I will neither shy away from protecting the interest of the league nor turn a blind eye (on the) baseless action taken on the basis of my current preventive suspension,” he said. — (FREEMAN)