Councilor Zenaido Rama has finally met his match in acting General Services Officer Mark Leo Monton. Rama has been conducting himself as a self-styled crusader against the administration of Mayor Dan Lim. An erstwhile ally of the mayor who ran and won for councilor under Lim's ticket, Rama has turned into a harsh critic since day 1 during his term. Rama has earned a reputation for harassing executive department officials on the slightest pretext. Considered a prize catch for the camp of Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso because of his propensity for criticizing Lim and his administration, Rama has taken his role seriously. The latest show he put on was to demand an inventory of all city motor vehicles and the necessary memorandum receipts issued for them. Rama made his demand during the city council session. Acting on this, city council secretary Mansueta Sale wrote Monton regarding Rama's demand last Dec. 14. Monton, however, did not take Sale 's communication at face value..

In a letter he sent last Dec. 21, Monton said he would like to know the basis for the request.   “Is this in aid of legislation? Is there a resolution or ordinance that requires the submission of the inventory?” Monton asked Sale. Monton told Sale that there is such a thing as inter-office courtesy. “I do not know if interfering with the affairs of another office is courtesy,” Monton said. In retaliation, Monton made an unusual request addressed to Sale. “Since you have started to violate the unwritten rule between the executive and the legislative departments, I would also like to make a request,” Monton said.  Monton requested Sale to furnish him with the resolutions, ordinances and committee reports authored and prepared by Rama. “I would appreciate it if you will grant this request,” Monton told Sale. At the same time, Monton told the council secretary that the inventory she is asking for has long been submitted to the Commission on Audit which has responsibility over this.  “We do not hesitate to comply with the laws that govern us but we also want to make sure that we are not used as tools to divert issues away from non-performing politicians,” Monton concluded.