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MANDAUE CITY, Philippines - The Mandaue City Council yesterday asked the United States Embassy to affirm the US Permanent Residency Status of City Attorney Omar Redula, in a bid to unseat him from his post.
Councilor Victor Biaño, majority floor leader of the opposition-dominated council, said the official certification would strengthen the council’s stance that Redula is not a resident of Mandaue City, contrary to the claim of Mayor Jonas Cortes who appointed the official.
The resolution, which was unanimously approved, is addressed to the Office of the Consul General at the US Embassy in Manila asking “to provide official certification of the US Permanent Resident status” of Redula.
Biaño said that if the US Embassy issues the certification, it would be attached to an appeal the council would submit to the national office of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), whose regional director in Central Visayas affirmed the appointment of Redula last Jan. 21.
“They (CSC regional office) asked for proof, then we will give them proof,” Biaño stressed.
Allies of the mayor, Councilors Diosdado Suico and Jimmy Lumapas did not object to the resolution, which was approved by the council during its regular session yesterday.
Biaño said that their appeal to the CSC against Redula’s appointment stemmed from the need to have a legal officer who would work closely on the affairs of the city, and therefore should be an actual resident.
The councilor said that from October to January, Mandaue City did not have a city Attorney because Redula went to the United States to visit his family, who live there.
The City Council last year asked the CSC regional office to revoke Redula’s appointment but the request was turned down.
“He is a green card holder, (while) the Local Government Code requires the city attorney to be a resident of the local government unit,” Biaño said.
The Jan. 21 CSC order signed by Regional Director David Cabanag Jr. said that while Redula is allegedly a US resident, no evidence was submitted to support the claim.
“On the other hand, on his (Redula) personal data sheet, appointee indicated ‘A. Mabini Street, Looc Mandaue City’ as his residence and used a Community Tax Certificate issued by the City of Mandaue, hence giving a presumption that he is a resident of the city,” Cabanag said.
