Four councilors turn to DILG: Can we hold session?

An empty session hall greets the media who went to cover yesterday’s regular session after Councilor Lea Japson and Councilor James Cuenco agreed to ask DILG first if they can hold a regular session with only four councilors in attendance. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

WITH 12 Cebu City councilors serving their suspension as ordered by the Office of the President, the four remaining councilors decided not to hold a regular session yesterday.

Acting Vice Mayor Lea Japson said the session was cancelled because she did not receive a memorandum from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) designating her as vice mayor.

Japson received the DILG order dated May 17, 2016, designating her as acting vice mayor, only at 11 a.m. yesterday.

Twelve councilors as well as Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella were suspended for “grave abuse of authority” for the release of calamity assistance in 2013. They started serving their suspensions last Monday.

Only Councilors Japson, Richard Osmeña, Philip Zafra and James Anthony Cuenco were not suspended.

The City Council is composed of the Vice Mayor and councilors, with the vice mayor presiding over the session.

With the DILG memorandum, Japson said she was willing to accept the responsibility as vice mayor, but she still has to write the DILG, asking if they can legally hold a session considering only four councilors will be in attendance.

Cuenco, who was supposed to take an official leave yesterday, said they still have to clarify whether they can hold a session or not.

“We do not want to depend on a mere opinion that was issued years ago. We want a new one, so that this issue could be settled once and for all,” Cuenco said.

Cuenco was referring to DILG-7 Legal Officer Aiza Fiel Nogra’s earlier statement that the DILG had already made an opinion in 2012 allowing the remaining members of the City Council to constitute a quorum.

Cuenco also visited Japson’s office yesterday to talk about the issue.

The suspended city councilors are Noel Wenceslao, David Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella, Gerardo Carillo, Nestor Archival Sr., Mary Ann de los Santos, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Roberto Cabarrubias, Ma. Nida Cabrera, Alvin Dizon and Eugenio Gabuya Jr.