‘NASAKITAN SIYA’: Garcia feels for Rama’s son but insists assumption as mayor was legal

Local

CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia holds no grudges against the son of former Mayor Michael Rama even if the young lawyer has filed a string of charges against him.

Garcia said he emphatized with Mikel, saying that the younger Rama may have been hurt after his father was dismissed from office by the Ombudsman over a nepotism case.

But Garcia clarified that he should not be blamed for the events leading to the elder Rama’s removal from office.

While Garcia recognized the pain Mikel is experiencing due to his father’s situation, he stressed that his assumption of the mayoralty was simply in accordance with the law.

“I understand where Atty. Mikel Rama is coming from. Nasakitan siya sa nahitabo sa iyang amahan. I can feel for him but he should not take it against me," he said.

He portrayed himself as an "innocent bystander," having no involvement in the complaints or actions that led to Michael Rama’s suspension.

Garcia pointed out that all the challenges faced by the former mayor were a direct result of his own actions, not anyone else’s.

Garcia emphasized that he neither filed nor initiated the complaint against the elder Rama and reaffirmed that his assumption of office was in full compliance with the directives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The mayor also noted that he empathizes with Mikel, having been a mayor's son when his father, Alvin Garcia, was still in office. He said such legal battles are part of the political landscape and often intensify during election season.

According to Garcia, the complaints filed by Mikel against him and DILG Region Central Visayas Director Leocadio Trovela were politically motivated and intended to undermine his leadership ahead of the 2025 elections.

He anticipated that more cases would be filed against him in the coming months but expressed confidence that these would diminish after the elections.

Mikel filed a series of charges with the Ombudsman-Visayas on December 6, accusing Garcia of grave misconduct, dishonesty, abandonment of office, and other violations.

The complaints stem from Garcia’s October 9 oath-taking as full-fledged mayor, which Mikel claimed was done without a proper directive from the Ombudsman.

In response, Garcia said he would address the complaints in the appropriate forums. He maintained his focus on governing the city, stating that filing retaliatory cases against his critics was not his priority.

Instead, he emphasized his commitment to serving the people of Cebu City.

The legal challenges, including separate complaints against Trovela for alleged misconduct and falsification of public documents, have further escalated political tensions in Cebu City.

Despite this, Garcia remains confident that the complaints will be dismissed due to insufficient evidence.(MyTVCebu)