POLITICS Rama, Daluz won’t take consultants from City

In a gesture of sympathy for their colleagues in the opposition, Cebu City Councilors Edu Rama and Jose Daluz III said they will not accept their consultants.

This, after Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that except for Rama and Daluz, none of the Barug Team Rama bloc will get their consultants for going against him.

The mayor said he approved the hiring of the consultants of Rama and Daluz, while Association of Barangay Councils president Phillip Zafra has had his consultant even before.

Osmeña said the hiring of Rama and Daluz’s consultants was approved because they voted in favor of the passage of the resolution expressing support for the full implementation of the multi-billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

But for Rama, the mayor’s decision is “unfair” to him and his colleagues in the minority.

“I’d have to decline. We’re all councilors working in one group. I was just being consistent with my stand on the BRT,” he said.

A lawyer, Daluz said that by depriving his colleagues of their privilege to hire consultants, Osmeña I believe that the offer to hire consultants was not sincere. The hiring of consultants has been approved automatically since then. But now, it has become a bargaining tool for those who agree with his stand. CEBU CITY COUNCILOR JOSE DALUZ III may have committed grave abuse of authority.

“I believe that the offer to hire consultants was not sincere. For me, the hiring of consultants has been approved automatically since then. But now, it has become a bargaining tool for those who agree with his stand. The consultant is important to give advice on the duties of a councilor,” he said

For Councilor Raymond Garcia, the mayor is “taking hostage” the privileges that are due the councilors just because they are with the opposition.

Earlier, Councilors Daluz, Garcia, Joel Garganera and Pastor Alcover Jr. asked Osmeña to approve the hiring of their consultants and give them their other privileges, such as communication allowance and service vehicles.

With this, Daluz said they will bring the matter to the Ombudsman Visayas to see whether Osmeña’s decision is within his power and not a grave abuse of authority.

Sought for comment, Osmeña told SunStar Cebu in a text message yesterday that Rama and Daluz’s pronouncements are welcome developments.

“I want to thank them for saving the City money by not accepting consultants. Ask them to file charges versus (former mayor Mike) Rama for not releasing budgeted assistance funds at P10 million each for Barangays Guadalupe and Lahug, the biggest in the north and south districts. Why are they more concerned about hiring consultants who are just a waste?” he said.

Rama and Daluz, however, denied that the funds were not released. Rama said the past administration has never deprived the barangays of assistance, even those allied with Osmeña that time.