With Labella's death, Rama cuts 'sabbatical leave' short

CEBU, Philippines —  Barely a week since his supposed 15-day sabbatical leave began, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama returned to the city Friday, November 19, following the passing of Mayor Edgardo Labella.

“I am already mobiling back to the city,” Rama told The Freeman Friday afternoon.

He wanted to recharge in anticipation of more work as he is set to assume the functions of a mayor fully after Labella exhausted 30 days of leave of absence.

During his passing, Labella was already on indefinite leave following months of being in and out of the hospital. He died at 4 a.m. from septic shock secondary to pneumonia.

Rama was supposed to be on vacation until the end of November with Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros taking the helm at City Hall.

But Rama had said he would not leave Cebu Island in case he needed to return to the city right away.

“I will be hitting the ground again... coz my partner passed away… and I have to be back, more or less, to take charge,” Rama said.

With Labella’s death, both Rama and Hontiveros will no longer serve in an acting capacity as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

Section 44 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code states that “a permanent vacancy arises when an elective local official fills a higher vacant office, refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, dies, is removed from office, voluntarily resigns, or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of his office.”

As such, if “a permanent vacancy occurs in the offices of the governor, vice-governor, mayor, or vice-mayor, the highest ranking sanggunian member or, in case of his permanent inability, the second-highest ranking sanggunian member, shall become the governor, vice-governor, mayor or vice-mayor, as the case may be. Subsequent vacancies in the said office shall be filled automatically by the other sanggunian members according to their ranking as defined herein.”

Rama is not new to the mayorship as he was mayor even with Labella was still a councilor. With Rama as his running mate, Labella ran for mayor and won in the 2019 elections.

Rama said his first order of business would be to honor Labella properly.

“The mayor shall be accorded full honors… deserving of him serving the city as a mayor and a public service,” Rama said.

The city will also designate a “Day of Mourning.”

Labella will stay at the Crystal Palace of the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City until Tuesday, November 23. The following day, his remains will be transferred to the Social Hall at City Hall and will stay there until Friday, November 26.

The Philippine flag at City Hall has been placed at half-staff Friday. – JMO (FREEMAN)