THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has summoned Michael Rama, the dismissed former mayor of Cebu City, to respond to a petition for disqualification from the May 2025 elections.
The summons, dated December 5, 2024, directs Rama to submit an “answer cum memorandum” within five days.
Who filed the petition?
The petition was filed by Jundel Bontuyan, who was formerly the manager of the Cebu City Sports Center under the administration of the late Mayor Edgardo Labella.
On October 18, 2024, Bontuyan submitted a 14-page petition to Comelec, citing Rama’s conviction by the Office of the Ombudsman for nepotism and grave misconduct. This decision resulted in Rama’s dismissal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
What are the petition’s demands?
Bontuyan’s petition seeks two main outcomes:
Immediate cancellation of Rama’s certificate of candidacy (COC).
Removal of Rama’s name from the ballots for the May 2025 election.
Comelec’s position
On September 4, 2024, Comelec issued Resolution 11044-A, mandating the cancellation of COCs for any candidate found disqualified by the Ombudsman. Comelec stated that the Ombudsman’s decision is immediately executory, even if pending appeal or reversal by a higher court.
What about the Supreme Court’s intervention?
The Supreme Court (SC) intervened after Rama challenged the Comelec resolution. On October 7, 2024, Rama filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition, seeking to block the resolution. The SC responded by issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO), maintaining the validity of Rama’s candidacy and directing Comelec to respond to his petition. This TRO effectively keeps Rama’s candidacy active as he seeks reelection.
Background on Rama’s case
The Office of the Ombudsman found Rama guilty of nepotism and grave misconduct, which led to his dismissal from office and his disqualification from future public service.
Despite this, Rama claimed he was never officially served with the dismissal order and insisted he still holds the position of mayor. He also disputed Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s accession to the role, deeming it invalid.
What could happen next?
If Comelec rules against Rama and upholds the disqualification, his name would be removed from the official list of candidates, preventing him from appearing on the official ballots for the 2025 mayoral election. (VoxPop Cebu)
*** This article was made with the help of an automated editorial system.