Thursday, July 06, 2006
Councilor lashes at colleague over report
By Gingging A. Campaña
CEBU CITY -- It was just one of the ordinary reports of the committee on budget and finance, but what roused the dozing gallery at Wednesday's session was the argument that followed between two Cebu City councilors.
Councilor Edgardo Labella, who is known to be always composed, was offended by the way Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, committee chairperson, transmitted her report on unliquidated cash advances. He is among those listed.
Pesquera reported that as of last December 31, councilors Labella, Rodrigo Abellanosa and Gerardo Carillo still had to settle their expenses for their official trip to Seattle, Washington last year.
According to Account 123 of the City Accounting Office records, Abellanosa still has to explain P114,602 in cash advances; Carillo, P88,943; and Labella, P115,082.
But Labella, when Pesquera moved for the approval of her report, said: "Without offense meant, this involves public funds. She should be circumspect in giving her report because as early as September 19, 2005, I have already submitted my liquidation report to the accounting office and treasury office, except that I did not submit on time the travel report."
If the reason for his listed accountabilities is the lack of a travel report, "then why is the name of Member (Hilario) Davide (III) not included?" Labella said.
Pesquera explained that she only based her report on the trial balance of the accounting office as of last December 31. She went over the accounts and Davide was not listed.
'Surreptitious'
Besides, she said, all the members of the council were furnished copies of her report by e-mail, as the house rules dictate, last Friday. Pesquera said she also sent text messages about the report to all councilors.
But a fuming Labella said the committee report was "surreptitiously and maliciously" transmitted because the legislative department is just renting the City Savings building and there is no Internet connection there yet.
He said Pesquera should know this. Besides, he was not informed by text message of such a report.
"I am a very patient person, Mr. Chairman, but there is a limit to the patience of a person," Labella said.
Councilor Gabriel Leyson, who presided over the session, told Pesquera, "You should see to it that your report will not embarrass the people who have submitted their report. We have to be careful and you should have the delicadeza to check."
"They have relatives and friends and it does not feel good that their names appeared even if they are already cleared," Leyson said.
Oversight
Abellanosa said it was possible that Pesquera committed an oversight as only three members of the committee on budget signed the report.
A member of the committee, Abellanosa said he would have objected to the report because like Labella and Davide, he also has submitted the papers for his travel expenses.
"I have submitted my report within 10 days from arrival. I was also wondering why my name was not listed. Perhaps a clarification by the accounting office would be in order," Davide said.
"Maybe we will amend the house rules and go back to the distribution of hard copies of the committee report. Why is it that you commented only now when every time I deliver a report, the names are always reflected (in the list)? I can't speak for the accounting office. I don't know. Perhaps we can include Member Davide's name in my resolution, Mr. Chairman. Next time I will just come up with a one-page report," Pesquera retorted.
This drew laughter from the gallery and Davide quickly said, "I don't want my name to reappear there."
Leyson told Pesquera that she should have the delicadeza to check whether the persons accountable have already submitted their liquidation reports.
Time out
"It is the job of the accounting office to check. I don't have the authority over and above these employees. It is not for me to ask," Pesquera said.
"It is not your job but you should go out of your way to check," Leyson said.
When Councilor Arsenio Pacaña said that the City's computer services department has yet to put up an Internet connection in the City Savings building, Labella said, "That's why I used the terms surreptitiously and maliciously."
Pesquera, however, said the report was not surreptitious.
In reply, Labella said, "I am the chairman of the committee on laws and I always consult the members before I come up with a report. And, no one (among the members) has the right to maliciously impute a colleague in this body."
Before tempers flared even further and the body divided for voting, Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. sought a five-minute recess.
When the session resumed, the council approved Pesquera's report after agreeing that the names of the councilors who already submitted their liquidation report be deleted from the list.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who did not preside over the session, as he was attending to an important matter, said Labella's reaction was just normal.
"If I were in his place, I would also get mad. It happened to me before when I just got a certification that I didn't have an unliquidated cash advance, but the accounting office told the media the other way around," Rama said. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(July 6, 2006 issue)
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