Sunday, September 09, 2007 Vice mayor defends councilors' trip By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte defended the City Council's decision to hold their legislative planning in Metro Manila instead here in Davao City or in the region.
In a telephone interview Friday night, Duterte said their trip to Manila is not just to plan for their legislative agenda but also to give their support to the Davao City agencies participating in the Philippine Travel Mart being held there.
She also clarified that the money they spent for their trip is within the budget allotted to the council last year for their travel.
"All records are available for scrutiny. The money was collated from the different budget of all the offices of the councilors. They are unexpended money from travel budget and training and seminars," Duterte said.
The vice mayor said the City Council spent a total of P396,000 for their Manila trip.
Only three city councilors were not able attend the legislative planning held at the Best Western-Astor Hotel in Makati. They are councilors Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, Pilar Braga and Nilo Abellera.
Cabling is in Australia while Braga is attending a very important family matter and Abellera is sick.
The legislative planning started last September 6 and ended September 8.
Duterte will however be staying over in Manila after their legislative planning as she is set to take a short course on legislation and development at the University of the Philippines-Diliman National College of Public Administration.
Duterte said her crash course will run from September 10 to 14.
