Dizon resigns as council fails to override veto

DEJECTION. Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmena comforts Cebu City Council Alvin Dizon who got emotional after the council failed to override the veto on his ordinance that called for a one-year moratorium on demolitions. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

CEBU City Councilor Alvin Dizon gave up his post as chairman of the housing committee after the Cebu City Council failed to override the veto of then-acting mayor Edgardo Labella of the ordinance providing a one-year moratorium on demolitions.

During the session Wednesday, the council was one vote short of the 12 votes needed to override the veto, with Councilors Joy Tumulak, Noel Wenceslao, Richard Osmeña and Gerry Carillo abstaining and Councilor James Anthony Cuenco supporting the veto.

Those who voted to override the veto were Dizon, who authored the ordinance, and Councilors Mary Ann De los Santos, Hanz Abella, Eugenio Gabuya, Lea Japson, Roberto Cabarrubias, Margarita Osmeña, Nida Cabrera, Nestor Archival and Alvin Arcilla.

Vice Mayor Labella, who served as acting mayor while Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama served his 60-day suspension, told the council that he cannot vote for an ordinance that he deemed ran counter to national laws.

But Dizon said he consulted multiple lawyers including Liberal Party (LP) vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo, an urban poor advocate.

“If the ordinance was approved, Cebu City would be the first local government unit to have this kind of ordinance. I even crossed partisan lines to heed the appeal of the urban poor, but sadly they failed to see its importance,” Dizon said.

In relinquishing his role as chairman of the council’s housing committee, Dizon said he failed when the council failed to override the veto.

“I felt as if I’ve let the people down. This is the second time that we have submitted this ordinance and we have failed them twice,” Dizon said.

Dizon also said Councilor Cabrera should take his place as the chairperson of the housing committee, but Cabrera refused and told Dizon to rethink his decision.

Dizon said his decision is final and the council would  have to vote for another committee chairman next week.

“My resignation does not mean that I won’t continue supporting the urban poor groups. My heart is with them and will always remain with them,” Dizon said.