Council ‘strips’ Belleza of posts

ANOTHER political drama unfolded in yesterday’s regular session of the Talisay City Council, as the majority bloc declared all the committee chairmanship posts and membership positions vacant.

The council’s move had hurt Councilor Shirley Belleza and members of the Talisay City Women’s Federation (TCWF), suspecting it as a calculated move to strip the lady legislator of her being the majority floor leader and committee chairperson.

Shirley, an administration party member, is the committee chairperson on family, women and children.

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However, some viewed the majority bloc’s latest move as their way to ground Shirley because her husband, Aberdovey, a former vice mayor, is contesting the vice mayoral bid of Alan Bucao, the administration’s bet.

Shirley has categorically declared her loyalty and support for the administration party, except for Bucao’s candidacy.

However, Shirley’s loss in the administration party may be the opposition camp’s political gain.

Liberal Party (LP) candidates, led by Aberdovey, said they welcome Shirley’s transfer to their camp.    

All local LP leaders agreed that Shirley is a great asset to the group, being an outstanding legislator and sincere public servant to the Talisaynons.

This, despite Shirley’s pronouncement that she would remain loyal to the administration and the Alayon party of Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas (Cebu, 1st district).

Shirley said she is supporting the reelection bid of Mayor Socrates Fernandez and the rest all the Alayon councilorial bets, except Bucao.

Bucao, a former opposition councilor, is now Fernandez’s running mate, pitting against her husband, Aberdovey in the vice mayoral race.

“She is most welcome to join us,” said Cansojong Barangay Captain Arnie dela Torre, an LP councilorial bet.

Close to 200 TCWF members attended the session yesterday expecting the approval of Shirley’s two proposed ordinances-–adopting the Gender and Development Code and strengthening the Barangay Health Workers Benefit and Incentives Act.

For the second time, the women went home frustrated.

Last week, majority of the councilors were a no-show in their regular session, stalling the approval of Shirley’s twin proposals.

“Since they are taking it personally against her (Belleza), this is too much, as if they don’t have wives and daughters. We will go out and campaign against them,” said Aida Sabate, TCWF treasurer and Lawaan 1 chapter president.

“The one to be stripped of their chairmanships are those who have not performed their jobs as legislators, not Shirley because she is performing well,” added a teary-eyed TCWF official.

Leaders of the TCWF, which has more than 3,000 members, vowed to publicly express their disgust against the councilors next week.

They did not disclose, though, if they would resort to holding a protest rally at City Hall.

“That they are going to watch out. They are not worthy to be called honorable. They committed a dishonorable act to the Talisaynons,” an official added.

The session’s hostile atmosphere started when Councilor Arturo Bas made a motion that all the committee chairmanships and memberships, including Shirley’s post as majority floor leader, be declared vacant.

Bas cited the “hot and boiling” political cauldron in the May 10 polls as his reason for the declaration of vacancies in all the chairmanship positions.

Bas said Bucao will temporarily act as the committee chairman of the whole, being the presiding officer.

Finding the motion irregular, Shirley manifested to proceed on a nominal voting, giving her colleagues the chance to explain their votes.

She said the presiding officer cannot just appoint the chairmanship because the council is a collegial body.

To her dismay, all voted in favor of Bas’ proposal, asserting that majority votes rule in the council session.

Councilors Bernard Odilao and Aaron Capala said the vacancy of chairmanships means more freedom to attend to their family’s needs and the campaign period.

Most of the incumbent councilors are seeking reelection this May except Shirley, who is on her last term.

Councilor Sergio Restauro said he agreed with the views that majority rules in the council. He recalled that he was once a victim of the majority decision when he was stripped of his chairmanship of the committee on health.

Sangguniang Kabataan President April Marie Cabigas said she sided with the majority “because I want change.”

Councilor Ben Abatayo was absent.

The council adjourned the session upon the motion of Councilor Edward Alesna and seconded by Councilor Dennis Basillote. The session ended in less than 30 minutes.

“What a script, congratulations!” was Belleza’s reaction upon the session’s adjournment.

With the vacancies in the committee chairmanship, City Council Secretary Emigdio Enjambre said all the councilors are free to propose or sponsor their resolutions in the next session.

This will not also prevent Shirley from re-introducing her stalled proposed ordinances, he said.

Shirley earlier appealed to her colleagues to be sensible in seeing the purpose of her proposal, which is to improve the health worker’s services and the women’s civic participation in Talisay City.

She lamented that they took her measures personally, when she is no longer running for an elective post in the May polls.

Aberdovey wondered why the majority bloc members had to declare all the chairmanships vacant when their mandate is to “research, legislate and investigate.”

“Some could only pass a measure as a co-sponsor or propose a resolution to have a Christmas break. This time, Talisaynons really need a new breed of legislators,” Aberdovey said.

The former vice mayor said that most of the council members are merely using their position “as personal livelihood.”

For their part, LP mayoral bet Raul Bacaltos and LP councilorial aspirant Romeo Villarante, both lawyers, said the City Council did not realize the consequence when it stripped Shirley of her chairmanship.

“What really is affected most here is the women’s group in Talisay,” said Bacaltos, a former provincial board member.

Villarante, a brother-in-law of resigned vice mayor Lani Abarquez, said the City Council decision only showed that the administration group is self-destructing.