The ultimate vindication of Michael Rama

Those who are already counting Atty. Michael Lopez Rama as politically dead better prepare for his dramatic resurrection. The Supreme Court has told the Comelec that his candidacy should remain until a final and executory decision, upholding the rather peremptory and, if I may say, with due respect, a palpably hasty decision to remove him from office without due process of law.

The apparent injustice committed against Mayor Mike Rama will boomerang against his political rivals. It will solidify the diehard supporters of Barug, as well as those who were erstwhile uncommitted but have seen how the good mayor was subjected to a series of unfair and unjust treatment. The Cebuano voters love the underdog. The sympathy and the compassion of the voters favor the predicament of the beleaguered mayor. And the release of the Supreme Court's temporary restraining order can be interpreted to mean that the evidence against the mayor is not that strong as to withstand the ultimate test of judicial scrutiny.

The unanimous decision of the Cebu City Council to endorse, Atty. Mikel, the son of Mayor Mike as a replacement to fill up the vacancy left by the elevation of council topnotcher Dondon Hontiveros to the Office of the Vice Mayor is an indubitable clear sign that karma favors the side of Mayor Mike and that the heavens have seen how he suffered the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes" that have lately befell him. They cannot put a good man down. Atty. Mike Rama is a good man. He is a man of dignity, decency, and honor. I know whereof I write. I was his Law professor before he transferred to San Beda.

Mike Rama is also an excellent lawyer. Before the age of 30, he won a major labor case for his client, the Cebu Oxygen and Acetylene Company, owned by the Aboitiz group. He was the HR manager and his company saved money by not engaging an external lawyer. He defended the company and he sued the DOLE under then Secretary Franklin M. Drilon. The Supreme Court en banc, or the whole court with 15 justices decided in favor of Atty. Mike Rama's client and employer. If you want to check, you can now Google COACO vs. Drilon, GR Number 82849, promulgated on August 2, 1989. I should know, I was Atty. Mike's adviser then and until now.

We should always remember that mayor Mike was stripped by a single public official of a position where he was voted into office by no less than 239,656 against his opponent Margot Osmeña of BOPK who garnered 202,446. By the signature of one official, not only was the good mayor stripped of his position. He was supposedly barred from holding public office perpetually. That was a cruel and oppressive punishment for a simple charge of nepotism. Mayor Mike was not given a day in court. He was deprived of his opportunity to be heard. And the decision was published even before he received a copy thereof. And the timing was immediately before the filing of certificates for candidacy. That was the unkindest cut of all.

Mayor Mike is not being charged with plunder, not like some senators who are still in office and are even running again. Mayor Mike is not charged with stealing money but of helping the brother of his wife get a job, which is a mere renewal of an age-old appointment. Mayor Mike is not a bad person. He never even says bad words against his mentor, Tom Osmeña. He is a decent man who does not play dirty politics. He does not deserve to be perpetually disqualified. There are thousands of evil men in the government who are deserving of that penalty. Why is he being singled out? He has helped many and has not done injustice to anyone.

At the end of this political exercise, the Cebu City voters are going to give Mayor Mike the biggest victory in his entire career, and his opponents who are, by the way, fragmented and are destroying each other, shall reap the rightful backlash of the injustices committed against such a fine and honorable man. I cannot wait to see that day when his enemies shall eat the bitter dust of disillusionment and regret. Karma is gaba. And heaven knows that Mayor Mike is a good and honest man.