Cebu city: Dismissed mayor Michael Rama on Thursday assured his supporters that his name would never be deleted from the ballot in the mayoral race here amid a disqualification petition filed against him and another city mayor before the Commission on Elections (Comelec). At a press conference, Rama said there is no basis for the poll body to erase his name from the ballot because the Ombudsman's decision over nepotism charges is not yet final. "We have the legal foundation, substantial legal foundation to face the petition," he said. According to Philippines News Agency, the other mayor facing a disqualification petition before the Comelec, dismissed mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City, has yet to issue a statement. Junel Bontuyan filed the disqualification case against Rama at the Comelec's main office in Manila, using as a basis the Ombudsman's resolution finding the former mayor guilty of nepotism that led to the latter's dismissal. The resolution issued on Oct. 3 also perpetually bars Rama from holding a ny public office. Rama stated that legal remedies are being prepared by his team. In his petition, Bontuyan said nepotism "undermines the laws by putting family ties above merit, robbing deserving individuals of the opportunities to better serve the public." Bontuyan emphasized that allowing Rama to continue his candidacy, despite the Ombudsman's finding of guilt, would contradict the authorities cited in the petition. The petition against Cortes, on the other hand, was filed by Ines Corbo Necesario and Julita Oporto Narte of Labogon, Mandaue City. In the petition filed before the Comelec in Manila, Necessario and Narte alleged that Cortes committed "material misrepresentation" when he placed in his certificate of candidacy that he was eligible for the office he seeks despite an Ombudsman order dismissing him from service that imposed the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from service.