Ex-mayor questions motive

Why only now?

This was the reaction of former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama to Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s filing of cases against 59 of 80 barangay captains.

“I’m just wondering because this thing has been there for a couple of years and why only file now? The timing is too bad, very clear. He has been in office in two years. This is political propaganda and political blackmail,” Rama said.

In a press conference yesterday, Rama said the mayor’s move is for the political gain of his candidates.

“The mayor is already bank- rupt for ideas. The survey will speak that they are really having a hard time and the victory of Barug is only a matter of time,” he said.

Flyers and posters against several opposition-allied barangay captains showing their unliquidated financial assistance had been distributed in the barangays.

Osmeña earlier admitted that he initiated the move to tell barangay constituents of their leaders’ unliquidated cash assistance.

In the past days, Osmeña lodged an administrative complaint against the barangay captains for violations of some provisions of the Revised Penal Code.

He said they failed to liquidate their financial assistance they received from the City during Rama’s term in 2015.

The Commission on Audit disallowed the release of the fund because it had no authorization from the City Council.