CEBU CITY—Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama celebrated the lifting of his suspension by hearing mass with hundreds of his supporters Monday morning at the Plaza Sugbo in front of the Cebu City Hall.
Rama’s 60-day preventive suspension over the allegedly unlawful demolition of a center island and a street lighting project on Katipunan St., Barangay Labangon, Cebu City started Dec. 10 and ended Feb. 8.
The suspension, arising from an administrative case filed against him by Labangon barangay captain Vic Buendia, was imposed by the Office of the President.
Rama said he did not feel as though he had been suspended.
“I keep on moving around. I keep on serving. I keep myself busy. That is why precisely I didn’t even think the eighth was approaching. I felt I was not suspended because I didn’t deserve a suspension, too,” he said.
Rama said he went around during Christmas and attended the Misa de Gallo or the traditional Christmas dawn mass.
He also spearheaded the preparation for the Sinulog celebration as chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Inc.
He was also active in the city government’s preparation for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.
Rama’s case is still being heard before the Department of Interior and Local Government–Region 7 but DILG hearing officer lawyer Isidro Barrios III has indefinitely suspended formal investigations on the case until after the May elections.