Councilor Richard Osmena playfully forces open the door of the closed session hall as Team Rama members Gerardo Carillo, Philip Zafra and Noel Wenceslao watch. Only six councilors showed up for the Dec. 30 special session, not enough for a quorum on a holiday. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Acting Cebu City Vice Mayor Archival hits minority bloc for ‘usurpation’ council
An exasperated Acting Vice Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. yesterday said the majority bloc is studying legal action against members who staged a two-day “takeover” of the Cebu City Council.
Archival said no valid session took place because only a handful of councilors showed up or less than the nine required to have a quorum.
He said the political maneuvers were “unjustifiable” and an act of “usurpation” by minority floor leader Gerardo Carillo, who steered discussions from the seat of the presiding officer.
“Their action showed disrespect to the institution. They are destroying the image of the institution when they are supposed to protect it,” said Archival.
In yesterday’s special session, the second in two days presided by Carillo, six allies of suspended Mayor Michael Rama discussed the option of having police arrest absent councilors to force them to attend.
They later called it off “in the spirit of the Christmas season”, said Carillo.
The temporary upheaval took place in the last three days of 2015, with most councilors already on holiday leave.
The minority bloc gathered at 10 a.m. yesterday and pushed ahead with a session even though Dec. 30, Rizal Day, was a holiday and only five councilors and Carillo were present.
POLITICAL DRAMA
“Why are they pushing very hard for others to join the discussion on Supplemental Budget No. 1 when in fact the 2016 regular budget is already approved?” said Archival in a press conference later.
“For me ,the reason is just drama to have something to tell constituents ‘Look we are working when in fact they are not.”
Acting Cebu City Vice Mayor Nestor Archival deplores the move of minority bloc members in “taking over” proceedings in two special sessions. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
SB No. 1, which contains a P2.6 billion outlay intended to pay off the city’s remaining loan for the South Road Properties (SRP), was rejected six times before by the opposition-controlled City Council from the time it was introduced in September.
Archival, who is the Osmeña bloc’s candidate for vice mayor next year, said SB no. 1 was “dead” with only one day remaining in 2015.
He said even if the special budget was not approved, the city still has unspent funds from the 2015 budget that could be revived in 2016.
He recalled that when Supplemental Budget 1 was first presented in a crucial meeting on September 30, the minority bloc walked out. Then when the annual budget for 2016 was deliberated in November and December, no minority member attended the hearings.
POWER TO ARREST
Carillo, on the other hand, said the minority bloc decided not to resort to to having absent councilors arrested.
He adjourned the session since the five councilors present could not reach a quorum. There are 17 members in the City Council.
“Although we have the power to issue arrest order for them this is the Christmas season. We just appeal for their sense of responsibility and oath of office. They (majority bloc members) didn’t show up. We can’t do anything about that.
“We are colleagues. We don’t want to arrest them. We don’t want to start the season with a heavy heart. It is now up to constituents of the City of Cebu to decide. We made our efforts,” he said.
In a related development, a female resident of barangay Apas filed a complaint with the Ombudsman Visayas against councilors of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).
Evelyn Montes filed the case petition alleging BOPK councilors should be cited for oppression, misconduct in office, dereliction of duty, and abuse of authority for deferring action on SB 1.
Sought for comment, Acting Vice Mayor Archival said the charge of derelection of duty does not apply to them in the BO-PK bloc.
“We’ve been studying the budget all through out. We will answer this case,” he said.
“These political adventure issues will pass. We’re just protecting the people’s money,” he said.
During the December 29 special session, Archival called for a recess three times amid floor arguments with the minority bloc over the lack of quorum and procedures.
When he left the hall on the third recess, Carillo took over.
“I didn’t walk out. I made a announcement or declaration of a recess and that’s official,”clarified Archival.
He said the minority bloc’s appointment of Carillo as presiding officer was out of order. Archival called the secretariat not to proceed with their work, but they did anyway.
Asked by reporters if he would consider the minority’s option of having absent members arrested, Archival said no.
“That is most extreme. I will not do that. We are friends, we are colleagues. Why would you arrest somebody? Nasakitan ko sa ilahang gihimo (I am deeply hurt by what they’ve done),” he said.
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