Tomas, Mike mum on ally’s ‘marital problem’

CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Michael Rama agreed there is no need, for now, for City Hall to intervene in the “domestic matter” involving a councilor and his wife.

“When it connects to the performance of his official functions, that’s the time we come in,” said Rama, presiding officer of the Cebu City Council.

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He said the report that the wife sought help at a barangay hall is being treated confidentially by women’s rights advocates.

The wife neither confirmed nor denied asking for a protection order from the barangay officials. Sun.Star Cebu tried to contact the councilor several times yesterday to get his side but he didn’t answer his mobile phone.

Republic Act 9262 allows barangay captains to issue 15-day protection orders to stop abuse. They must then help the complainant seek a longer-lasting protection order from the court.

A barangay captain confirmed the couple appeared for a hearing at the barangay hall last week, but would not say what the hearing was about.

Boy Abunda

Osmeña said the couple can always rely on his and his wife Margot’s support, but begged off from commenting on the alleged dispute in public.

“I don’t like to give advice in public, I’m not like that. Lisod kaayo ug mag-apil-apil pa ko, dili ko ganahan ba nga murag si Boy Abunda, ayaw na lang oy (I’d rather not intervene. I don’t want to be like Boy Abunda),” Osmeña said, referring to the television talk show host.

The mayor said he will talk to the couple privately and offer whatever help they may need.

Rama said he hopes the problem will be resolved, but sees no need, for now, for official intervention.

“When it comes to family problems, we just observe at first. If we step in right away, that might be misconstrued as meddling,” Rama said.