Garcia warns of carnapping charges as Rama yet to return city-owned vehicle

Local

DISMISSED Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has yet to return a government-issued bulletproof van despite multiple demands, prompting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to warn that a carnapping case could be filed against him.

The City Legal Office (CLO), led by City Legal Officer Santiago Ortiz Jr., issued a final demand letter on February 19, giving Rama until February 21 to surrender the Toyota Hiace Super Grandia.

However, a source from the Office of the Mayor told MyTV Cebu that as of 7:20 p.m. on Friday, February 21, the vehicle remained in Rama’s possession.

Ortiz warned that failure to return the van could lead to civil and criminal cases, including a possible carnapping charge.

Instead of complying, Rama confronted the CLO on Friday, February 21, shortly after holding a press conference. He stormed the office, demanding to know who ordered the issuance of the demand letter.

Ortiz explained that the order came from Garcia and that the CLO was simply acting in the city’s interest.

“You look at my eyes; I have not done anything wrong,” Rama told Ortiz, calling the demand letter an insult.

Ortiz advised him to respond in writing, but Rama insisted that the order was an act of “tyranny and oppression.”

“This is oppression. This is tyranny. It's an abuse of authority, hanghtod ang akong sakyanan ipauli (even to the point of taking back my vehicle),” Rama said.

When asked if he would return the van, Rama responded, “My vehicle, my official vehicle?” as he questioned why he was being asked to surrender it.

He recalled that when he first attempted to enter City Hall on December 2, 2024, to assert his mayorship, his vehicle was clamped.

“Except, I hate his face,” Rama quipped, referring to Garcia’s photos displayed in the building.

Garcia clarified that the city had been requesting the return of two vehicles since last year.

After barangays requested service vehicles, an inventory showed that two units were unaccounted for. One has since been recovered, but Rama has yet to return the bulletproof van.

“We are strict when a government official uses government property for private purposes,” Garcia said.

He emphasized that while his directive is to recover the vehicle legally, the CLO will decide the next legal steps, including the possibility of filing a carnapping case.(MyTVCebu)