CEBU CITY – Security was tightened at the City Hall here following the failed takeover attempt of the camp of dismissed Mayor Michael Rama last week.
HEAVILY armed policemen have been deployed at the Cebu City Hall following last week’s tension filled incident caused by the takeover attempt of the supporters of dismissed Mayor Michael Rama. (MyTVCebu)
Around 50 policemen were deployed inside and outside the City Hall.
People entering the City Hall are also being checked.
“We also have intelligence personnel monitoring the situation outside and inside the City Hall,” Police Col. Antonietto Cañete, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said on Monday, Nov. 11.
The mayor’s office was also padlocked.
Ariel Yboran, chief of the city Civil Security Unit, said the office that Rama used to occupy was padlocked to preserve the evidence that may be used against former City Administrator Collin Rosell.
“We padlocked this because the things of Rosell are still there as evidence,” said Yboran.
Rosell and Rama’s supporters stormed the City Hall last week.
Rosell insisted that Rama remains the city’s authorized chief executive even if the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed him from service for nepotism for hiring his two brothers-in-law to work for the city government.
He contended that Rama did not receive a copy of the dismissal order, making the assumption of Garcia invalid.
While in the office of Rama, Rosell was arrested by police for usurpation of authority after he issued memorandums, stating that he was back as city administrator.
Last Friday’s incident is already being investigated, Garcia said.
“I gave instructions to the city administrator, Human Resource Development Office, and the City Legal Office to investigate if there were employees who violated the laws. If found out that there were some who violated the Revised Penal Code and special laws, they will be charged accordingly,” said Garcia.
Garcia assured that it is business as usual at the City Hall after the incident. “Public service has to be delivered to the people. Business as usual," Garcia said.
He said the CCPO has been instructed to ensure that operations at the City Hall will not be hampered.
Garcia clarified that Rama can visit the City Hall anytime but as a private citizen. “This is a public office, this is a public building. He can always come back,” Garcia said.
He said it would be better to ask the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Ombudsman about the Rama’s camp insistence that his assumption as mayor was invalid.
Garcia emphasized that his assumption as city mayor was based on legal orders.