FORMER Cebu City mayor Michael Rama on Friday, July 4, 2025, offered to serve as the defense lawyer for his estranged ally, Raymond Alvin Garcia, amid Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s allegations surrounding the purchase of a P4.4-million electric vehicle.
“Ingna si (tell) Raymond, I will be his lawyer. Akoy modepensa (I will defend him),” Rama said.
Rama, in a press conference, said the issue was blown out of proportion, echoing Garcia’s claim that the purchase was canceled.
The former mayor’s statement came amid rumors of a possible alliance between Rama’s Partido Barug and Garcia’s Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusug) in the City Council, which will be presided over by Osmeña. Several Barug members were seen in Kusug’s oathtaking last June 28.
The political relationship between Rama and Garcia, allies in the 2022 election, deteriorated after Rama’s suspension in May 2024 and subsequent dismissal from office in October. Garcia, then the vice mayor, replaced Rama as mayor.
Garcia has yet to issue a statement on Rama’s offer.
Rama also took a swipe at Osmeña, saying the latter’s return to City Hall is “alarming,” and his recent statements seemed like he was suffering from an “identity crisis.” Osmeña won in the recent midterm elections with Mayor Nestor Archival, his ally at Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
Osmeña responded on his Facebook page, describing Rama, his former ally at BOPK, as “the most qualified” to defend Garcia and an “expert in overpriced vehicles,” referring to the P3.6 million Toyota HiAce Super Grandia that was purchased in 2022 and was issued to Rama during his term as mayor. Rama only returned the Super Grandia after getting a final demand letter from the City Legal Office early this year.
Osmeña has criticized Garcia, who served as mayor from May 2024 until June 30, for allegedly buying a P4.4-million BYD Tang electric sports utility vehicle (SUV), calling it “vulgar” and “overpriced.” He pointed out that the vehicle’s regular retail price is around P3.3 million, meaning the City allegedly paid P1.1 million more than the standard price.
Garcia, for his part, has maintained that no government funds were spent, as the vehicle was returned to the dealer due to an unfavorable legal opinion.
More “evidence”
However, on Friday, Osmeña revealed more evidence: a copy of the official registration and certificate of registration (OR/CR) for a BYD Tang electric vehicle, registered to the City Government. The OR/CR, in an old format, was released on April 24.
The vice mayor also posted a screenshot photo of Office of the Building Official (OBO) head Florante Catalan and Human Resource and Development Office head Henry Tomalabcab as both posted a photo inside the BYD vehicle with a caption of “With my VIP-iest BFF OBO Head Archt. Flo inside his BYD electric car.”
This was Osmeña’s response to Garcia’s statement in a radio interview Friday that the vehicle was not used but only inspected. He asked another question, “Does the registration fee reflect the value of P3.3M or the “value” of P4.4M? ”
Osmeña has criticized the timing of a legal opinion that deemed the purchase of BYD Tang unfavorable, which was issued nearly a year after the purchase request and after Garcia’s recent election loss. Archival defeated Garcia, Rama, former Customs chief Yogi Filemon Ruiz and Julieto Co in the mayoral race last May 12.
The vice mayor suggested the vehicle’s return may have been an attempt at a cover-up after Garcia lost the polls and pointed to ongoing document access issues under Archival’s administration.
Rama said he sympathized with Garcia.
“Wala man kaha palita (It wasn’t brought, right)? So, no injury or damage. Then, no liability. Then, no case,” he said. / EHP