TAKEAWAYS from the temporary transfer of power following the May 8, 2024 preventive suspension of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama by the Ombudsman: THE QUESTION OF SERVING THE ORDER. Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia assumed as acting mayor Monday, May 13, 2024, after some lack of clarity on whether the suspension order was deemed served and the shift of authority would begin.
” In that situation, the Local Government Code provision applies, under which majority of the members present, there being a quorum, shall elect from among themselves a temporary presiding officer for the session. It has been the practice though in the City Council for the No. 1 councilor -- Dondon Hontiveros, who polled in 2022 elections 178,953 votes in the south, against Nestor Archival’s 119,456 in the north -- to take over as acting vice mayor and acting Sanggunian presiding officer.