CEBU, Philippines - The Rallos family filed an administrative case against Mayor Michael Rama before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas for his refusal to honor the garnishment order of P133 million issued by the Supreme Court.
Last week, Lucina Rallos filed complaints of grave misconduct, oppression, dishonesty, and neglect in the performance of duty and a violation of his oath or affirmation of office.
“I am now administratively charging Mayor Rama or filing this administrative complaint against him for the administrative liabilities incurred by him when he committed the criminal acts being charged in the separate affidavit-complaint,” the complaint stated.
SC has ruled that the Cebu City Government must pay the Ralloses P133 million as compensation for a property in Sambag II that was expropriated for a road in 1963.
Majority of the members of the City Council wanted to follow the judgment of the Supreme Court but Rama refused saying the P133 million can be used for purposes that will benefit the Cebu City residents and that it is the people’s money that must not be wasted.
Rama and the Council were sued for contempt for continuously refusing to pay.
“Mayor Rama, as a public officer or employee, is legally required to obey all laws, legal orders and decrees promulgated by the duly constituted authorities,” the complaint also stated.
Rama filed a petition for annulment of judgment before the Court of Appeals after the City Hall lawyers found a “convenio” or a compromise agreement that dates back to the 1940s to prove that the contested property was donated by the owners and not expropriated from them.
But Rallos said the petition for annulment of judgment was to cover up Rama’s illegal act of failing and refusing to obey the order.
She added the injunction issued by the Court of Appeals to stop any garnishment or execution of the order is not even relevant and actually immaterial of Supreme Court order.
Rama said he has not received a copy of the complaint that Rallos filed against him but assured that the city will answer it. He remains firm in his position that the city must not pay the P133 million for a lot was donated to the city government. Rama said that those who have been insisting payment from the city government may not even be the true heirs of the owner of the lot.
“Another group of Rallos heirs visited my office. They also have their claim that the lot has been donated. I referred them to our lawyer to see how they can be of help,” Rama said.
The city government was able to secure a preliminary injunction stopping the payment of P133 million to the heirs of the late Fr. Vicente Rallos.
The same order also prevents the sale through an auction of the lot in the South Road Properties that the Ralloses eyed as payment should the city government continue to refuse to pay. (FREEMAN)