The press conference by the camp of Michael Rama was scheduled for 10 am Friday at La Fortuna Bakery near the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. I wanted to interview lawyer Collin Rosell for a separate story that was only tangentially connected with the conflict at city hall.

Atty Rosell will be at the press con, my contact told me by way of inviting me to the event.

When I got to La Fortuna Bakery, it was empty save for two customers who were buying bread. I wanted hopia and a bottle of water but was told they did not accept GCash. I asked the cashier whether the bakery was indeed the venue for a press conference and was told that somebody called them to give instructions to tell the media that the press conference had been transferred to “the Mayor’s office.”

At first I thought she was mistaken. I asked her again. She told me somebody called the store with the new instructions. For a second I thought it was a sneaky move by the camp of Mayor Raymond Garcia to hijack a Rama press con and invite the reporters to City Hall.

I sent my contact with the Rama camp a question on the change of venue. I explained that there was no other info except that the new location was at City Hall.

When I entered the first floor of the new City Hall building where the Mayor’s Office is located, I met GMA 7 reporter Alan Domingo who gave a wry smile and an instruction to proceed to the conference room. He said City Hall was swarming with police officers.

As I approached the conference room, I saw people were a bit jittery. I asked one where the press conference was and she in turn asked me, “who invited you?” I couldn’t say that it was Rama’s group. Even I thought it was incredulous.

But when I entered the mayor’s conference room, I saw Rosell and the other members of the Rama camp, including his chief of staff Glicerio Germudo, Jr., a former schoolmate in South Cotabato.

Texar Dugaduga, who was introduced as head of the Cebu City Public Information Office (PIO), was setting up the Facebook livestream and giving instructions to the staff in the conference room.

Dugaduga was then given the microphone to read a statement by the Rama lawyers. In typical Rama fashion, the statement started with a quotation, this time from Ecclesiastes, about there being a time for everything. The statement was in Bisaya and started with the emphatic announcement that with the lapse of the six-month suspension on Rama, he was now back as Cebu City Mayor.

While Rama was reported to have been dismissed from service and perpetually disqualified from holding public office for nepotism, his lawyers say this ruling and order have never been served. Rosell said they even sent official letters to the Ombudsman Visayas and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 to inquire about the existence of the ruling and dismissal order. Rosell said the local offices merely told them their queries will be referred to the central office in Manila.

Copies of the Rama press statement were printed on recycled Cebu City Hall documents and distributed to reporters. They printed these here in City Hall, members of Garcia’s staff later told me.

Rama wasn’t at City Hall in Friday’s tense encounter that included a dare to a fistfight between supporters of the opposing camps. He posted on his Facebook page earlier this week vacation photos with his family in Paris.

One of Rama’s lawyers hinted he would be back for flag raising on Monday. In ceremonies during Rama’s time at City Hall, the “Singapore-like Cebu City with Melbourne features” official jingle is always played. Garcia has since dropped the campaign, angering Rama.

During the press conference, lawyer Homer Cabaral, head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) under Rama, announced he would file graft charges against Garcia and DILG 7 Director Leocadio Trovela. Cabaral said it was irregular for Trovela to administer the oath of office of Garcia as mayor to serve the remaining term of Rama.

Cabaral also said he would file charges against human resources officer Henry Tumalabcad and City Administrator Kristine Batucan over his termination as OSCA head.

While the press conference was going on at close to noon, Germudo, who served as presscon emcee, asked reporters to limit their questions because “the acting mayor,” in reference to Garcia, would be using the same room for his own press conference.

Rosell, however, said they would stay as long as they wanted and asked the media to raise more questions so that the press con could continue.

Rosell also announced he has assumed his old post of City Administrator and was prepared to sign documents if any were available. He said all the other officials suspended along with him and Rama are also considered to be back to their posts.

Garcia denied that was the case saying their appointments were not renewed and he has already named people to their posts. Garcia also issued a notice to Rosell that his “coterminous appointment” expired last October 9, 2024.

When the Rama camp press conference ended, the reporters were invited to Garcia’s own press conference in the vice mayor’s office, which he has long occupied even after he served as acting mayor. The office is located in a separate building.

Garcia was accompanied by Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Colonel Antonietto Cañete in his press conference. Garcia said he asked police to maintain maximum tolerance with Rama’s group so long as City Hall operations weren’t affected.

“It is business as usual here in the City of Cebu,” Garcia said. “Kay dili gyud ko ganahan nga ma-disrupt ang operations diri sa Cebu City Hall because we are here to serve the public and the people who put us here.” (I don’t want operations here to be disrupted.)

He asked the Rama camp to bring their grievances to the proper forum, which he said is the courts and the Ombudsman and not City Hall.

Later in the day, Garcia ordered the replacement of the head of the Civil Security Unit (CSU). City Administrator Batucan met with City Hall officials to discuss what happened earlier that day.

Cebu City Legal Officer Santiago Ortiz, Jr. then filed a police blotter report on Rosell’s entry into City Hall and his issuance of a memorandum.

In the evening, Rosell’s detention by police was captured on Facebook Live by newly-designated Cebu City PIO Head Ramil Ayuman. Police officers surrounded him as they put on a handcuff. Rosell was later brought to the Waterfront Police Station.

Rosell later told reporters who interviewed him at the station that he would definitely file a case against police.

Rama and Garcia used to be allies and would profess support for each other in their speeches in public events. Rama described Garcia as a good partner and repeatedly said the latter would run as his vice mayor. Their relationship soured after Rama’s suspension in May. Rama said Garcia was over-eager to take over his post. Last week, Rama repeatedly lambasted Garcia as a “mananapaw,” Bisaya for usurper.