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CEBU CITY — Former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama has declared himself the leader of the opposition in the Visayas and vowed to stand by former president Rodrigo Duterte, following his arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, on charges of crimes against humanity.
Rama has reaffirmed his loyalty to Duterte and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), where he serves as the party's vice president for the Visa-yas.
He said that his stance is not against the Philippine government but a call to express grievances over what he described as an unjust handover of Duterte to a foreign tribunal.
"I am declaring myself as the opposition leader for Visayas Regions 6, 7, and 8 because I am the president of Partido Barug, 'Team Rama,' a political party registered and accredited with the Commission on Elections," he said.
Rama also assured Duterte that he remained firmly by his side, adding that even if they were the only ones left standing, he would not aban-don him.
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Duterte was transported to The Hague in the Netherlands on March 12, where he is now detained as the ICC proceeds with its trial.
The former president faces allegations of crimes against humanity related to his administration's war on drugs, which reportedly led to thou-sands of extrajudicial killings.
Rama criticized the Marcos administration for allowing Duterte's arrest and transfer, calling it an act of "snatching and kidnapping."
He argued that Duterte should have been tried in the Philippines.
He also accused the current government of political persecution, citing the recent arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a known Duterte ally.
He likened the current political climate to martial law, cautioning against the possibility of nationwide unrest similar to the 1986 People Power Revolution.
While he urged Filipinos to take a stand, he clarified that he was not inciting any protest or demonstration but merely voicing concerns that the government should address.
When asked about concrete plans for his opposition movement, he gave no clear details, instead saying, "Watch out."
Rama, meanwhile, was dismissed from public office.
On Oct. 3, 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman found him guilty of nepotism and grave misconduct for appointing two brothers-in-law to positions in Cebu City Hall.
As a result, he was permanently disqualified from holding any government position. His appeal against the ruling was denied.
On May 7, 2024, Rama had already faced a six-month preventive suspension, along with seven other city officials, over allegations of nonpay-ment of salaries to four city employees since July 2023.
Despite his removal from office, Rama was able to proceed with his mayoral candidacy after securing a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court. This legal maneuver allowed him to continue campaigning even as his dismissal case remained unresolved.
Days before Duterte's arrest, Rama was joined by Vice President Sara Duterte in a series of handshaking events in Cebu City.
These public engagements, where Rama and the vice president greeted and interacted with residents, were seen as a show of solidarity amid growing political tensions.
The events also highlighted Rama's continued political influence despite his legal battles.
Rama urged PDP members in the Visayas to join him in opposing Duterte's detention but stressed that participation would be voluntary.
While he dismissed the idea of street protests, he mentioned a candle-lighting event as a symbolic expression of dissent.
"The people should not just sit on the bench and refuse to be counted," he said, insisting that the real instigators of unrest were those in power, not him.
Rama also recalled his previous support for the UniTeam tandem of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2022 elections, expressing regret that the alliance had led to the current political crisis.
"This situation would not have happened if we truly stood united," he said.
