CEBU City officials assured their subordinates that there is nothing to worry over the allegations of nepotism and other charges lodged against Mayor Michael Rama before the anti-graft office.

This is what lawyer Collin Rosell, Rama’s secretary, said during City Hall’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.

Rosell spoke for Rama, who has yet to return to Cebu, on Monday following his four-day leave starting Jan. 24.

Rosell said a pool of lawyers are currently studying the charges filed against the mayor.

“There are allegations that he committed nepotism. But we shouldn’t worry as we are united as a group,” Rosell said in Cebuano.

“We shouldn’t worry about it since we have a lot of lawyers working for us. Our lawyers will take care of this issue,” he added.

Rosell, however, clarified that Rama is hiring private lawyers to defend him and not those currently employed at the City Legal Office.

Rosell mentioned that aside from the group of lawyers, the City’s Human Resource Department Office will also be assisting to disprove the allegations.

Jonel Saceda, sporting the name “Inday Josa Chiongbian Osmeña” on Facebook, sued Rama before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City last Jan. 24 over allegations that he committed nepotism, grave misconduct, and graft and corruption after he hired his wife’s two brothers to work as casual employees for the Cebu City Government.

According to Saceda’s complainant, Rama allegedly violated the law when he appointed his brothers-in-law, Elmer Gimenez Mandanat and Gomer Gimenez Mandanat, as casual employees of the Cebu City Government.

Rama’s secretary had previously said the case has no merit because there is no violation in the appointment of Elmer and Gomer under any law.