Aside from Rama’s son, Garcia wants experienced legislators to be considered to fill vacant City Council seat

Local

THE recent nomination of Mikel Rama to fill a vacant seat on the Cebu City Council has sparked discussions about the need for a more inclusive selection process.

While the council unanimously supported Mikel, son of dismissed Mayor Michael Rama, for the position, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has proposed that nominations be opened to experienced legislators from various political parties to ensure fair representation.

During a press conference on Monday, November 4, Garcia acknowledged Mikel’s qualifications as a lawyer but emphasized the importance of considering candidates from other parties as well.

He raised concerns about fairness, asking, "To be fair to all parties… Why give only one party an opportunity? Let’s give others a chance as well.”

Garcia identified several alternative nominees, including former Cebu City legislators Basak Pardo Barangay Captain Dave Tumulak and former Metro Cebu Water District Chair Atty. Jose Daluz from his local party Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusug).

He also recommended former councilor Engr. Jun Gabuya from the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), the minority party in the council.

Referring to these nominees as veteran legislators, Garcia proposed submitting the three candidates to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Office of the President for final selection.

He argued that involving a wider pool of candidates would lead to a fairer selection process, citing historical precedents, such as when President Gloria Arroyo appointed Vicente “Jun” Kintanar, Jr. to replace then-councilor Firmo Dayao in 2001.

On October 23, Councilor Phillip Zafra, a member of Team Rama Barug, formally nominated Mikel for the vacant position, a recommendation that was unanimously approved by the council.

However, Garcia has been vocal about his desire for a more equitable approach, advocating for the inclusion of other political parties in the nomination process.

In a prior press conference on October 31, the elder Rama expressed his lack of interest in his son's nomination, clarifying that he did not initiate the proposal and preferred for Mikel to win a seat through campaigning rather than appointment.

Both Mikel and his father filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections on October 3, with the former mayor aiming to reclaim the mayoral position amid ongoing challenges related to his disqualification from public service due to nepotism charges.(MyTVCebu)