CEBU CITY — The police arrested former Cebu City administrator Collin Rosell on Friday night after he entered the city hall and attempted to assert authority, claiming his six-month preventive suspension had expired.

Led by Col. Antonietto Cañete, police officers detained Rosell for alleged usurpation of authority after he occupied the old office of dismissed mayor Michael Rama and held a press conference, declaring the return of Rama.

The incident unfolded when Rosell arrived at the city hall on Friday morning, insisting that his and Rama's six-month suspension had lapsed on Nov. 6.

Rama and Rosell were suspended in May for allegedly failing to pay four city hall employees for 10 months.

NABBED The police arrest suspended city administrator Collin Rosell (in black jacket) on Nov. 9, 2024, at the office of dismissed Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. SCREENSHOT FROM RAMIL AYUMAN’S VIDEO

Rama was later dismissed and disqualified from public office due to another complaint. This time, for nepotism, he allegedly hired two brothers-in-law for key positions in the city government.

However, Rama's camp refuses to acknowledge the dismissal order, citing that the copy of the order was never served to them.

Earlier, Rosell was denied entry to the City Administrator's Office, so he went to the suspended mayor's office to announce the return of Rama as mayor of Cebu City.