Council endorses Mike's son

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council recommended yesterday Atty. Mikel Rama, son of dismissed mayor Michael Rama, to fill the vacancy left by Acting Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros when he officially assumed the post in a permanent capacity early this month.

City Councilor Philip Zafra made the nomination following a privilege speech during their regular session yesterday, when he expressed the need to address the vacancy.

Then city councilor Hontiveros ascended as acting vice mayor after he received the memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) last May 17, following the Office of the Ombudsman decision placing then mayor Rama under a six-month preventive suspension.

When the Ombudsman came up with another decision last month on another complaint, this time dismissing former mayor Rama from service and perpetually disqualifying him from holding any public office, Hontiveros took oath as the full-fledged vice mayor on Oct. 11, three days after now full-fledged Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia did his.

Zafra argued that since May, there was a temporary vacancy at the City Council that should already be filled up.

When both Garcia and Hontiveros took oath this month, Zafra said, the latter’s position as a member of the City Council was rendered permanently vacant.

Zafra recalled that he and Hontiveros ran as independent candidates in the 2022 national and local elections.

He explained that under the law and established jurisprudence, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that in highly urbanized cities where the vacancy is caused by a City Council member not affiliated with any political party, the President of the Philippines shall appoint the member to fill in the vacancy.

He cited as jurisprudence SC decision G.R. 116763 (Governor Rodolfo C. Farinas and Al Nacino, Petitioners, vs. Mayor Angelo M. Arba, Vice Mayor Manuel S. Hernando, and Edward Palafox, Respondents).

Saying that, he declared that he is nominating Mikel to the vacant position at the City Council.

“Mikel Rama is not only a qualified individual but also one who brings with him the right combination of knowledge and experience and a heart of public service. First, he is a lawyer by profession with a keen understanding of the law and its application. But beyond his professional credentials, Mikel is blessed with a unique advantage,” Zafra said.

He said that Mikel has been “tutored and guided” by no less than former mayor Rama, served Cebu City for more than three decades.

Zafra said Mikel has witnessed “firsthand the challenges and triumphs of leadership, public service, and governance in his early age.”

The City Council then approved the nomination, unanimously.

Mikel filed his Certificate of Candidacy for city councilor for the 2025 elections last October 3 under the banner of the coalition Partido BARUG-Team Rama and BagOng Sugbo, with his father as the standard bearer. (FREEMAN)