BUSINESS AS USUAL. Mayor Michael Rama reads a document while meeting his department heads at the Cebu City Hall in this Dec. 17, 2022 photo. Rama on Monday reassured Cebuanos that it is business as usual at the city hall despite the plunder charges filed against three of his department heads. (Photo courtesy of Cebu City Hall PIO)
CEBU CITY – Mayor Michael Rama on Monday reassured city residents here that it is business as usual at the Cebu City Hall despite the plunder charges faced by three department heads and three other employees in line with a questionable PHP239.7-million garbage collection contract.
Rama said he will implement a reshuffling in city hall in light of the filing of criminal and administrative charges by the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) against some of his personnel.
He advised the personnel who were named in the criminal and administrative charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to go on leave of absence while preparing for their defenses.
The NBI-7 filed plunder, malversation of public funds, graft and corruption and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees against former Department of Public Services (DPS) head now Cebu City Environment Natural Resource Officer John Jigo Dacua, former garbage disposal unit in-charge now Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team head Grace Luardo-Silva and acting City Treasurer Mare Vae Fernandez.
Also facing the same charges are City Treasurer’s Office inspectors for DPS Allen Omlero Ceballos and Romelito Asinjo Datan, General Services Office inspectors for DPS Mark Abarquez Ugbinar and Jerome Visarra Ornopia.
Also a respondent in the case is former city administrator and lawyer Floro Casas Jr. and corporate officers of the joint venture of Docast Construction and JJ&J General Supply.
Rama advised the personnel to face the cases, saying those who have not committed anything wrong have nothing to worry about.
“Ayaw mo’g kaguol kung wa gani moy sala, kung naapil lang mo (Don't be worried if you do have no fault at all if you were just implicated),” Rama said during the flag-raising ceremony.
"Ang sad-an, bisa’g way gagukod, modagan, motago bisa’g way nangita. Apan ang inosente, moatubang bisan kinsa (The culprit, even if no one is chasing, runs, hides even if no one is looking for him. But the innocent, he’ll face anyone),” he added.
Rama said he experienced the same situation in 2017 when he was accused as a drug protector until he was exonerated by then President Rodrigo Duterte. (PNA)
