Former Cebu City Mayor Michael "Mike" Rama has firmly rejected the Commission on Elections' decision to disqualify him from running in the May 2025 mayoral elections, declaring that the ruling is not final and will be legally contested.
Political Battle Intensifies
During a press conference held on Friday, November 14, Rama expressed both disappointment and frustration with Comelec's decision, characterizing the case as part of a continuing pattern of political challenges that have marked his 36-year career in public service.
The Comelec First Division recently granted a petition for disqualification filed by Barangay Adlaon voter Jundel Bontuyan, effectively barring Rama from seeking the mayoral position in the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.
Legal Grounds for Disqualification
In a resolution dated November 11, the Comelec First Division referenced the guilty verdict issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found Rama culpable of nepotism and grave misconduct. The Ombudsman had imposed the penalty of dismissal from office, accompanied by the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from reemployment in any government service position.
Rama finished third in the recent mayoral race, trailing behind current Mayor Nestor Archival and former mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia. Despite this electoral setback, the former mayor has remained politically active and continues to assert that the Ombudsman's ruling was unjust and should not permanently prevent him from serving the public.
Legal Battle Ahead
Rama emphasized that the Comelec decision is not yet executory, revealing that his legal team is preparing the necessary legal remedies to challenge the ruling before the Comelec en banc and potentially higher courts if required.
"When will this ever end? What else is new? After 36 years of service without corruption, I could have retired quietly. But I will not surrender to the satisfaction of those who orchestrate these persecutions," Rama declared during his press conference.
He added, "It is not the end. It is merely the beginning of a long and thorny road toward truth, freedom and justice."
The former mayor accused unnamed individuals of promoting "manipulative narratives and twisted conclusions" that he claims mislead the public about the nature of the Ombudsman ruling and its implications on his eligibility to hold public office.
Rama expressed gratitude to his family, supporters, and political allies from Partido Barug, Team Rama, and the Rama Foundation, stating that their continued loyalty strengthens his determination to fight the disqualification case.
For now, Rama maintains his position that he will continue to challenge the ruling and defend his eligibility, concluding with a firm declaration: "This is not over."
