Opposition hits Tomas’ for rejecting consultants

Saying he can’t be selective, some Barug Team Rama councilors are asking Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to approve the hiring of consultants for their offices.

In a news conference last week, Councilors Jose Daluz III, Joel Garganera, Raymond Garcia and Pastor Alcover Jr. said the hiring of their consultants were not approved, as well as other privileges, such as communication allowance and assigning of service vehicles.

“Gi-deny niya akong consultant. Ang tanan sa iyang habig approved, nganong ang amo ing-ani man ni (He did not approve our consultants,but those who are for his allies he approved. Why is this so)?” Garganera said.

Daluz said that what Osmeña is doing is tantamount to grave abuse of authority. The mayor can’t be selective in granting such privileges, he said.

Garcia said Osmeña’s move is unfair to them since during the previous administration, all councilors, even if they were with the opposition, were granted the privileges.

“It is so unfair because during

JOEL GARGANERA Cebu City Councilor

the time of former mayor Michael Rama, we all know that everybody was accorded with the same privilege and they were even majority at that time. Service vehicles, communication allowance and consultants were given to them,” he said.

When sought for comment, Osmeña said they can forget about the approval of their consultants.

“What do they say when Rama did not release the P20 million financial assistance to Lahug and Guadalupe? Hey, I’m learning tricks from Rama,” he said.

Councilor James Cuenco also raised the matter during the session last Aug. 22, saying the executive department should consider the approval of their consultants.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla suggested that opposition councilors send a request to Osmeña.

“Before the mayor took office, (former councilor) Jun Pe told me that the minority were given service vehicles but nobody claimed it. That’s why it was given to the others,” he said.

Asked about Pe’s role in the City, Arcilla said Pe is not a City Hall employee but he is working for the mayor as volunteer.

He did not approve our consultants, but those who are for his allies he approved. Why is this so?