Cebu City mayor faces string of complaints

Local

AS Cebu City gears up for the upcoming election season, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is facing a string of complaints lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Anticipating more cases to surface in the coming months, Garcia attributed the wave of accusations to typical political tactics aimed at undermining candidates during election periods.

Garcia, currently dealing with allegations including nepotism, believes the real challenge for his accusers will be proving the legitimacy of their claims.

In a press conference on Monday, November 19, he said that filing cases against political figures is common during elections but questioned whether these cases have substantial merit.

“Ang pangutana diha, naa bay unod ang imong kaso? (The question is, does your case have substance)” he added.

Among the complaints are accusations of nepotism, particularly for allegedly hiring his wife, Kate.

Additionally, earlier, mayoralty aspirant Yogi Filemon Ruiz has filed separate graft charges against Garcia.

In response to these developments, Garcia maintained that taking legal action is the proper course rather than causing disruptions at City Hall, referencing the recent incident involving former city administrator Collin Rosell.

On November 8, Rosell attempted to reclaim his post following the end of his preventive suspension but was subdued by police after reportedly attempting to assert his authority without proper documentation.

Garcia stressed that disputes over employment status should be settled through legal channels, not through disruptive actions at City Hall.

He explained that City Administrator Kristine Marie Batucan had already filed a case against Rosell for usurpation of authority, citing documents issued by Rosell as evidence of his attempts to resume his position unlawfully.

Addressing the nepotism complaint, Garcia denied any involvement in appointing relatives, noting that he has not received a formal copy of the accusation.

He clarified that nepotism involves an appointing authority hiring a family member, which he insisted he did not do, either during his time as vice mayor or as city mayor.

The ongoing legal disputes follow the dismissal of former Mayor Michael Rama, who was found guilty by the Ombudsman of appointing his wife's brothers to City Hall roles, a violation of civil service regulations.

Additonally, Rama was already suspended, along with several other city officials including Rosell due to a separate case.

The situation at City Hall has been tense since Rosell's attempt to retake his post. Although Rosell was released from custody, the office he sought to reclaim remains locked as investigations continue.

Garcia indicated that discussions with police and the prosecutor’s office are underway to determine when it will be reopened, emphasizing the need for legal resolution before taking further action.(MyTVCebu)