Thursday, February 07, 2008 Dumanjug councilors differ in picking presiding officer
THE scheduled session in the town of Dumanjug did not push through yesterday after members of the council failed to agree as to who will sit as acting presiding officer in the absence of the vice mayor.
Sensing tension, around 200 supporters from both camps gathered in front of the municipal hall, prompting Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria to send one team from the Special Reaction Unit (SRU) as stand-by force to help the local police in case incidents occur in the area.
Councilor Efren Gica, in a radio dyLA interview, said that during their caucus yesterday, the majority composed of opposition lawmakers, said they wanted to elect the acting presiding officer.
Gica said he argued that under the internal rules of the council the councilor who got the highest number of votes should assume the post. Gica is the number councilor in the town.
The councilor said they were supposed to tackle the approved budget, which was vetoed by Mayor Cesar Baricuato and the majority bloc wanted to override it.
“Gihashasan nila og maayo ang (They scrutinized the) budget. Gikan sa (From the) P1.5 million nga gahin alang sa general services gihimo lang nila nga (they reduced it to) P400,000,” said Gica.
This is not the first time that tension rose between the opposition and the administration.
Last December, they failed to pass the P40-million annual budget for 2008 after the Municipal Council members could not agree on the eligibility of Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Antonio Garcia as ex-officio member.
Gica is an ally of Baricuatro, who had a falling out with Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district), Antonio’s uncle.
Antonio and Baricuatro’s son Christopher both ran for ABC president.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, for her part, warned the officials of Dumanjug to set aside their political differences.
“Let this be a warning to all officials from the topmost to the last councilor. Set aside your political differences. Work together because if you will not, then watch me,” said Garcia.
The governor said she earlier called the officials to a meeting and requested them to work together for Dumanjug.
“ I hope my request will be taken seriously,” the governor added. (KNT)
