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Saturday, March 04, 2006
Councilors old enough to know rules: exec
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
CITY councilors are old enough to know the rules and that there is no need for a resolution to remind them to observe proper decorum as minority Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang wants, Majority Floorleader Emmanuel D. Galicia said Friday.
Dayanghirang earlier proposed a resolution urging Vice Mayor Luis C. Bonguyan and the majority floor leader to impose proper decorum and order during debates and discussions in the council session to avoid misunderstanding and bickering among its members.
But as far as Galicia is concerned, it is not for the presiding officer and the majority floor leader to keep watch over each and every councilor, who should by now know the rules and abide with them.
"Now they want to take this as an issue against the presiding officer and the majority floor leader when the council members are the ones violating the rules? We don't have to be told what to do as if we're still small children," he added.
Galicia said it is the responsibility of every council member to observe proper protocol and behavior when the session is ongoing.
"They should be the ones to watch themselves, that they will not quarrel with each other, shout at each other, and stand even when not recognized. All these that the minority is raising an issue about, they're all doing these," Galicia said.
Galicia said simple rules like not bringing mobile phones and newspapers inside the session hall are not followed. As a result, councilors in session are often seen talking or texting through their cellphones or reading the news.
"There are a lot of violations. These are simple rules and yet the councilors do not follow these. Why should they bring in mobile phones when the rules say they shouldn't? Why are they reading newspapers when this is not allowed? Why are they doing these?" Galicia pointed out.
The rules being the rules, he said, need not have another resolution to be implemented.
Galicia added that instead, being honorable members of the council, every member should abide by the rules without being reminded.
He said the most that a presiding officer and a majority floor leader could do is to pacify bickering council members and that it is for the member to observe proper decorum.
Galicia said Dayanghirang, who proposed the resolution, should first make sure that he is observing council rules.
Dayanghirang in response said, "The conscience bloc is just asking for fairness and proper decorum because these will reflect on the council as a whole."
The minority only wants to remind everybody about how to conduct themselves in session because individual behaviors reflect on the City Council as a whole.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 4, 2006 issue)
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