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Friday, January 20, 2006
Cebu City councilors seek meeting to iron out kinks with city attorney
Is the Cebu City attorney not studying matters the City Council endorsed to his office?
Some councilors believe so. That’s why council members will meet him next Wednesday to discuss rules and procedures on endorsements and referrals.
City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, in particular, complained against City Attorney Rodolfo Golez’s alleged lack of commitment to his work.
“Lately the City attorney does not study the endorsements. He will immediately say ‘okay, pay this, pay that.’ He is supposedly there to protect the interest of the City,” she said during the Council’s session last week.
In a telephone interview, Golez denied the allegation but declined to comment further.
MCWD request
“Dili man na sakto (That’s not right),” he said before excusing himself.
Golez became the subject of discussion after City Councilor Edgardo Labella made a committee report on the request of Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) to be exempted from posting cash bonds in conducting diggings.
Golez reportedly approved the request, which Pesquera said contradicts an ordinance that requires cash bonds for diggings and the setting up of streamers.
Benefit of doubt
Vice Mayor Michael Rama also wondered why Golez already had an opinion on the MCWD request when procedure requires that the request should be tackled first by the City Council, which would endorse it to his office for opinion.
Golez, he said, should have known of the provision of the city ordinance.
Pesquera also cited other instances where she said Golez was quick to decide that the City should pay certain individuals, such as when he approved that home-owners who claim the City had intruded into their properties should be paid.
Labella said Golez should be given the benefit of the doubt because what happened could be “pure and simple lack of knowledge in the workings of the City of Cebu”, and suggested that the council meet him in an executive session.
City Councilor Hilario Davide III said Golez made an opinion on the MCWD request because the City Planning Office asked him to. The opinion was rendered not out of Golez’s volition.
Golez, he said, merely confirmed the alleged intrusion and had no option but to agree on the payment. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 20, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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