City councilors squabble over resolution

A CITY Councilor on Tuesday challenged his fellow councilors, who belong to the opposition, to present evidence of fraud against the administration.

Councilor Alvin Calingin said opposition Councilors Edgar Cabanlas and Roger Abaday should present evidence rather than “give political comments” against the administration.

During Tuesday‘s regular session, Calingin confronted Cabanlas and Abaday after they objected to a resolution he authored requesting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to immediately schedule the conduct of a referendum for the separation of Barangays Balulang, Kauswagan, Lapasan and Tablon.

He said he is already fed up with “the manner of Cabanlas and Abaday in providing issues that would end up blaming the present administration.”

“Just because they are in the opposition doesn’t mean that they have the authority to politicize and make issues against the administration,” he added.

Calingin cited his proposed resolution, which he claimed was given malice by the two opposition councilors.

“All I ever wanted was a referendum since the City Government has already paid the amount to Comelec,” he said.

For his part, Cabanlas said this should not be pursued since the resolution is already seven years old.

“It is no longer legal and there should be another process,” he explained.

Cabanlas added that since election is forthcoming, the resolution, if pushed before the filing of candidacies and the start of the campaign period, will only create “political issues.”

“I believe it would be expensive if the City Government will divide the barangays as it would need a lot of money and manpower, such as additional officials, which might deplete the revenue of the barangay,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abaday said pushing the resolution is untimely because the people have not yet fully recovered from typhoon ‘Sendong’.

“Instead of spending for the division of barangays, the money should be spent in helping these barangays,” Abaday said.

A resolution on the division of these four barangays was already filed in 2005.

But Abaday said there was “foul play” during the signing of the resolution in Barangay Kauswagan.

However, Calingin, who said he was fed up of the accusation, said the proposed resolution is no longer based on “wisdom” but on who “requested.”

“Most constituents, from the barangays that are to be divided, personally came to me to ask for any improvement,” he said.

Calingin reminded Cabanlas that he co-authored the resolution when the latter was still with the administration.

He said all that he wants is to re-validate the petition but this doesn’t mean that the City Government will immediately provide funds.

Calingin dared both councilors to make another ordinance if they think it is not beneficial for the people and if they doubt his intention.

He also advised them to pinpoint those who claimed that the papers have been faked as he vowed to investigate Abaday’s accusations of “foul play.”

But Abaday said he will not apologize, saying: “When we give our comments to the administration, they would keep telling us that we are politicking.”

Cabanlas, on the other hand, said Calingin cannot tell them what to say in the plenary hall, citing “it was nothing personal.”

Amidst arguments, Calingin’s resolution was approved, with 12 votes against two oppositions. (Nicole J. Managbanag)