By Jinky Rosit
PIO Head

CEBU CITY (Aug. 11, 2023)-Mayor Mike Rama wants to focus on quelling corruption inside City Hall, especially in departments he considered as “hotspots” for illegal activity. 

NOT MY CUP OF TEA. Mayor Mike Rama (center, in white) reminds city officials and employees during a convergence meeting on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, to shun corrupt practices while he remains the city’s mayor. / 📷 𝘗𝘐𝘖 / Jinky Rosit

During a convergence meeting with City Hall’s department heads on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, Rama reminded city officials to avoid committing graft and corruption while he remains mayor of the city,

Rama said he has identified some departments at City Hall that are considered as “hotspots” for corruption namely the City Treasurer’s Office, Cebu City Medical Center, Department of Engineering and Public Works, Department of Social Welfare Services, Cebu City Health Department, Cebu City Transportation Office, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Local School Board, among others.

He warned department heads that he has instructed his elder son, lawyer Mikel Rama, to file cases against them if there is evidence that they were involved in corrupt practices.

The mayor has asked his son to file charges against erring department heads as part of his campaign to clean up City Hall.

“Corruption is not my cup of tea,” Rama repeatedly said in his talks with City Hall department heads.

NO TO CORRUPTION. In this file photo, Mayor Mike Rama is accompanied by members of his family as he took his oath of office as ascended mayor of Cebu City. Carrying Rama’s bible is his elder son, lawyer Mikel Rama. /PIO/File

Just after he ascended as mayor in 2021 after the death of former mayor Edgardo Labella, Rama immediately sought for an end to corrupt practices at City Hall. 

In December 2021, Rama wrote a letter to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Central Visayas in conduct an investigation and file charges against those involved in a controversial garbage deal which resulted in over P239 million in damage against the City Government. 

A year after Rama sought their help, officials of the NBI 7 filed charges against 15 former and incumbent City Hall officials involved in the controversy. # 

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