ON a wheelchair and with an IV drip beside him, Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy attended yesterday’s session to announce his resignation as majority floor leader.
In a privilege speech, Sitoy said he will also resign from his chairmanship of the committee on complaints and investigations.
PB SITOY ON WHEELCHEAR IN PB SESSION/OCT. 26, 2015: Cebu vice governor Agnes Magpale with other provincial board members approach PB member Arleigh Sitoy (on wheelchear) after his privilege speech resigning as majority floor leader then ask permission to leave the session hall as an ambulance is waiting to bring him to a hospital.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
But he said he was stepping down, not because of his ailment, but because he was no longer affiliated with the Liberal Party, the ruling majority in the board.
“This is my obligation. I wanted to clear things out because I didn’t want to leave the provincial board hanging,” he said in a speech.
Since he was not granted a certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) for his bid as mayor of Cordova town, Sitoy jumped ship to Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Sitoy was admitted to Chong Hua Hospital last Monday due to a bleeding cyst in the kidney.
He said he wasn’t even allowed to go out of the facility yet, but he “argued” with hospital management.
Despite his ailments, Sitoy is determined to run for public office next year.
Sitoy was discouraged from seeking reelection in the PB after he underwent heart bypass surgery last December.
With so many barangays to visit as 6th district representative in the PB, he said it stressed him out.
“Cordova only has 13 barangays. If I ran for board member again, that will kill me. The risk is high,” Sitoy said.
Sitoy left the session hall early because his ambulance was already waiting outside. His wife and two children accompanied him.