Four counts of oppression: Ombuds finds Rama “guilty”

CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Office of the Ombudsman has found former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama guilty of four counts of oppression or grave abuse of authority and imposed on him a one-year suspension over the irregular reassignments of four City Hall employees that resulted in the nonpayment of their salaries for 10 months.

The anti-graft body also meted the same penalty to former OIC City Assessor Maria Therese Rosell for the same offense.

It can be recalled that the same case earlier placed Rama and other City Hall officials under preventive suspension, marking his departure from City Hall.

In a 26-page decision dated September 1, 2025, the Ombudsman said the complaint was filed on February 28, 2024, by employees Filomena Atuel, Maria Almocar Diongzon, Sybil Ann R. Ybañez, and Chito B. Dela Cerna.

Named respondents were Rama, former City Administrator Collin N. Rosell, his wife Maria Theresa, Assistant Department Head for Administration Francis May L. Jacaban, Assistant Department Head for Operations Angelique B. Cabugao, Administrative Division Head Jay-Ar B. Pescante, Division Head for Assessment and Records Management Lester Joey O. Beniga, and Computer Division Head Nelyn P. Sanrojo.

They were charged with Grave Misconduct, Oppression, Grave Abuse of Authority, Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Officer, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, and violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

However, only Rama and Rosell were found guilty of four counts of oppression or grave abuse of authority, each count corresponding to the four complainants. The rest of the respondents were cleared for lack of substantial evidence.

Under civil service rules, the administrative offense of oppression is punishable by suspension of six months and one day to one year for the first offense and dismissal from service for the second.

In line with this, both Rama and Rosell were meted a one-year suspension and disqualified from promotion for the same period. Since both are no longer serving in City Hall, the anti-graft office converted the suspension into a fine equivalent to six months’ salary, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Previous suspensions and dismissals

Rama and seven other City Hall officials were earlier slapped with a six-month preventive suspension by the Ombudsman following a case filed by employees who were reassigned to different offices and were not paid for 10 months.

In a 10-page resolution, the anti-graft body found sufficient grounds to place Rama and the seven others under preventive suspension for Grave Misconduct, Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Officer, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, Grave Abuse of Authority (Oppression), and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Rama was also issued another dismissal and suspension order after being found guilty of nepotism. He was also found guilty of grave misconduct over a complaint involving a multi-million peso garbage deal.

That case stemmed from the complaint filed by Jundel Bontuyan over three purchase orders for garbage collection and disposal services allegedly awarded to three “favored companies” — Jomara Konstruckt Corp., ACM Hauling Services, and ARN Central Waste Management Inc.