Rama’s son was appointed to fill the vacancy in the Council

The son of ousted Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has been appointed to fill a vacancy in the City Council following recent position changes in the local government.

Councilor Phillip Zafra, who is allied with the ousted mayor, nominated Mikel Francisco Rama to fill the vacant seat without objection.

Zafra, during his keynote speech at the regular session of the Council on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, said that Mikel is not only a qualified person but brings with him the right combination of knowledge and experience with a heart for public service .

SunStar Cebu tried to reach Mikel, but phone calls went unanswered.

Mikel is running as councilor in the May 2025 elections.

Zafra said that Mikel is a lawyer by profession with a great knowledge of the law.

He added that Mikel also has the unique advantage of being mentored and guided by his father, Michael, a man who served Cebu City for more than three decades.

Zafra also said that since Mikel Rama’s early years, he had witnessed first hand the challenges and triumphs of leadership, public service and governance.

“He has not only learned from books and the law, but from a mentor who has dedicated his life to serving the people of Cebu City,” he said.

With the imminent addition of Mikel to the City Council, the number of allies of the ex-mayor will add up to seven of the 18 councillors. The other five include Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros and councilors Jocelyn Pesquera, Noel Wenceslao, Francisco Esparis and Franklyn Ong, who switched alliances from the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan Party (BOPK) led by former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

On May 8, Mayor Rama and seven other city officials were suspended by the Ombudsman for the alleged failure to pay the salaries of several City Council employees.

The Ombudsman then dismissed Rama from public service after he was found guilty of nepotism. The order went out on October 3.

Then acting mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia was sworn in as full mayor of Cebu City on October 9, while Hontiveros, the number one councilor, was sworn in as vice mayor on October 11

Not to be outdone, Rama’s rival, Garcia, also has seven allies in the City Council. These include Councilors Rey Gealon, Renato “Junjun” Osmeña Jr., James Anthony Cuenco, Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella II, Joel Garganera, Pastor Alcover Jr. and Jerry Guardo.

Zafra said that after Hontiveros took the oath of office and officially assumed the duties and responsibilities as vice mayor, his position as a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) became permanently vacant.

He explained that in accordance with the established law and jurisprudence, based on the General Register 116763, the Supreme Court ruled that in highly urbanized cities where the vacancy caused by a member of the SP, not affiliated with any political party , the President of the Philippines, through the Executive Secretary, and at the proposal of the SP concerned, will appoint the member to fill the vacancy.

Zafra’s nomination will be sent to the Office of the President, the Office of the Executive Secretary, the central, regional and municipal offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Office of the City Mayor from Cebu.