THE Office of the Ombudsman Manila has endorsed to its Visayas office the complaint filed against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for alleged nepotism, grave misconduct and graft and corruption, over the hiring of his brothers-in-law as employees of the Cebu City Government.
The complainant Jonel Saceda, using the name “Inday Josa Chiongbian Osmeña” on Facebook, said Thursday, March 23, 2023, that the case is now moving after the central office forwarded the complaint to the Visayas office last February.
Jerone Castillo, special assistant to the mayor, said they have not received any formal and official communication from the Ombudsman about the complaint yet.
Castillo said they know only that the complaint was filed in Manila.
“The complainant did not file here. Maybe he was hoping to get some kind of favorable decision in the Manila office, but in the end it was still endorsed back to Ombudsman Visayas,” said Castillo Thursday.
Saceda, in response, said he filed the case in Manila to make the process shorter.
Saceda said he now entrusts the case to the Office of the Ombudsman, adding the office may order Rama to file a counter-affidavit or place him under preventive suspension.
Saceda accused Rama, among other allegations, of violating Section 59 of Executive Order 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987 that prohibits nepotic appointments in favor of a relative of the appointing or recommending authority.
According to Saceda, Rama 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.
Elmer and Gomer are brothers of Rama’s second wife, Marilou Gimenez Mandanat-Rama.
Saceda also cited Section 79 of Republic Act (RA) 7160, or the Local Government Code, which prohibits the appointment of a local official’s relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity, such as a first cousin or first cousin-in-law.
Saceda also sued Rama for violating Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits acts that “cause any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official, administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
Rama, in a previous report, said he would answer the accusations filed against him in the proper forum.