The Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition of suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to stop the order of the Office of the Ombudsman on his six-month preventive suspension and seven other officials of the Cebu City Government.

The Court resolved to scrap the petition outright based on three reasons.

The resolution of the Court's Special Tenth Division dated May 17, 2024 cited that "there was no motion for reconsideration of the assailed Ombudsman order dated May 2, 2024 before availing the instant petition for certiorari; the original transaction receipts from the private courier, as proof of mailing of the petition, are not appended in the petition; and that the assailed Ombudsman order attached in the petition is a mere photocopy."

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak sought the mayor's reaction.

"I do not know. I will seek a copy first, and then I will comment," Rama said. 

The other petitioners who were furnished copies of the resolution are City Administrator Collin Rosell, Maria Theresa Rosell, officer in charge of the City Assessor's Office; Francis May Jacaban, designated assistant Department head for Administration/Legal Office; Angelique Cabugao, designated assistant Department head for Operations; Jay-Ar Pescante, designated Administrative Division head; Lester Joey Beniga, designated Assessment of Records Management Division head; and Nelyn Sanrojo, designated Computer Division head.

In a 10-page resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman Manila found sufficient grounds to put the mayor and the seven officials under suspension for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of public officer, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials and employees.

The suspension order stemmed from a complaint of four regular employees at the City Assessor’s Office who were reassigned to other City Hall offices but were not paid of salaries and benefits since July 2023.

As of posting time, though, the four have already received their back pay.