Kaban ni D_BystandeR: NAGKAYAMUKAT NGA PAGPANG-APOD APOD SA HINABANG

Mayor Mike Rama should have more reason to ponder over the case he is facing about "Grave misconduct and abuse of authority" in relation to the distribution of P20,000 in calamity assistance to city hall officials and employees as the case now unfolding in the office of DILG would seem to be an uphill battle for him. His overall handling of himself, now that he is the city mayor, where he behaves like he has all the power in his hands to do what he wants finds his corresponding match in the  person of the DILG investigating officer Christopher Tiu who seemed not to be  unfazed when Mayor Mike confronted him, point blank, to ask him if he was there "in good faith or in bad faith." In a show of "nerves," the investigating officer did not blink and did not find that question worthy of a decent reply. And when Rama asked Tiu why others except respondents and counsels were asked to leave the room, Tiu replied, "To be honest, Sir, with your actuation, yes, they should be excluded." Tiu, though, later granted Rama's request to let all the people stay. But while Tiu turned  down their motion for reconsideration to the denial of their request to have the  complaint dismissed, Castillo (City Attorney) and VM Labella and the other counsels asked Tiu to inhibit himself from conducting the investigation and to suspend the  hearing. Their walk out followed when their request was turned down and Tiu told them they were now to proceed with the marking of exhibits. Reacting to what Rama and other officials did, Delute (the lawyer who filed the case) said "it was no longer the humble submission but an arrogant deposition." "Ang pag-walk out nila klaro nga desperate move. I just hope nga correct ilang interpretation nga way jurisdiction ang DILG kay risky kaayo kon sayop ang ilang interpretation," Delute said. The mayor likewise approached Atty. Benjamin Militar who told the mayor not to disrespect anyone's opinion.

Footnote: This comment came out in connection with a news item in The FREEMAN, entitled, "City Hall executives walk out." It came out on February 25, 2015.