THE opposition bloc dared City Hall Monday to investigate Vice Mayor Vicente Emano’s 110 absences as presiding officer of the City Council, if only to show that it is not singling out those who are not administration allies.

“We’re not even challenging them to suspend the vice mayor outright, just as they railroaded the suspension of an opposition supporter; we just want them to investigate their own—if they really have the gumption to do it,” said Councilor Teodulfo Lao, leader of the minority bloc in the City Council.

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Lao was referring to Baragay Patag Chairman Benedicto Fabricante, whose 90-day preventive suspension by City Hall has elicited outcry from many in the opposition, alleging that it was politically motivated.

City Council Majority Floor Leader Ramon Tabor laughed off Lao’s suggestion, saying the opposition can press administrative charges against Vice Mayor Emano anywhere but the administration-controlled blue ribbon committee.

“Why in all places the blue ribbon committee? Are they really serious in having the vice mayor investigated, or are they just engaging in plain politics?” said Tabor.

He added: “They knew very well who they are up against with. He is the presiding officer of the City Council, and therefore has control of the blue ribbon committee. Maybe they should file the case before the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government).”

Since taking office in 2007, Emano has only presided once and has accumulated 110 absences as of last week. He is not expected by many to attend Tuesday’s regular session.

Councilor Roger Abaday, another opposition figure, said the absences amount to dereliction of duty, abuse of power and even dishonesty.

“It is the height of hypocrisy that the vice mayor is exempted from investigations, when the blue ribbon committee is tasked with investigating the accountability of Council members and officials in the barangay,” said Abaday.

Emano’s excuses that he was attending “matters of equal importance” to his duty as presiding officer should also be verified, the councilor said, alleging that the vice mayor was “holed up in his office during the duration of each absence.”

“How can you know that he’s telling the truth without conducting investigation? Mas maayo ma-imbestigahan aron makitang katag (its better that it be investigated to get clarification),” said Abaday.

Fabricante, who is facing grave abuse of authority and falsification charges, was suspended by Mayor Constantino Jaraula last week on the strength of the blue ribbon committee’s recommendation.

But his legal counsels said the suspension order was illegal because the blue ribbon’s recommendation did not pass through the plenary, and that the grounds cited by Jaraula were insufficient and even irrelevant to the administrative cases filed against Fabricante.