For delicadeza: Two officials running in 2016 polls leave City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - At least two Cebu City Hall officials who are running for an elective position in 2016 are already leaving their posts effective next month out of delicadeza.

Lawyer Jose “Joey” Daluz III, executive assistant of Mayor Michael Rama, has tendered his resignation effective October 1 while Community Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Randy Navarro applied for an early retirement which will also take effect on the same date.

Both Daluz and Navarro are running for city councilor in the May elections. Daluz will be running under the Team Rama while Navarro will be with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan in the south district.  

Daluz, a former city councilor, said he decided to resign to avoid suspicions that he will be using government resources to advance his personal interest.

 “Para lang pagwagtang sa pagduda nga we will be using the resources of the city government for our own personal interest. Mao na akong purpose nga I see the need to resign na jud,” Daluz told reporters yesterday.

With Rama’s consent, Daluz’s resignation will take effect on October 1 but he has ceased from reporting to City Hall since September 1.

Daluz said his leaving his work at City Hall would also give him time to focus on their political agenda being the campaign manager of Team Rama.

As executive assistant to Rama, Daluz was tasked to supervise special projects such as the bidding process of the Cebu City Medical Center and South Road Properties.

Although he has resigned, but Daluz said he will still be involved in the budget preparation for 2016.

“Although my involvement is merely on the part of influencing and not on decision making… to be involved on discussions on how the preparations for the budget will be and what are its needs,” Daluz said.

Navarro, on the other hand, said he filed his early retirement application last Wednesday to catch up with the filing of the certificate of candidacy next month.

“I will be filing my COC this October so I directly filed my retirement to avoid technicalities on my documents,” said Navarro, who served the city since 1990.

But his intent of retirement will still have to be approved by Rama.

“We (I and Rama) already had personal conversations these past few days. We already had several talks regarding my plan. At first, he refused to accept. But on our final conversation two weeks ago, he already gave his final blessing,” Navarro said.

Replacing Navarro as CENRO chief is lawyer Janesis Ponce.  (FREEMAN)