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INSTEAD of returning a bulletproof van owned by the Cebu City Government, a defiant Michael Rama confronted City Legal Office head Santiago Ortiz Jr. on Friday morning, Feb. 21, 2025, protesting a demand letter ordering him to return the vehicle. Rama, who was dismissed from service over a nepotism case, told Ortiz that the letter was an insult to him as an elected official, asserting that his term ends on June 30.On Wednesday, Feb.
Ortiz replied that he was acting under orders from Garcia and that he was “simply doing my job, Sir,” as stated in the letter — it was the Cebu City Government that demanded it back. The CLO head then advised Rama to respond officially and follow legal procedures.Before this meeting, Rama had already criticized the final demand letter from the CLO, describing it as a form of oppression and abuse of authority by Garcia, whom he referred to as a “fake mayor.
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