Friday, January 18, 2008 Village chief hits Angeles councilors
ANGELES CITY -- A barangay leader here did not hide his annoyance over what he said as the "laziness" of some city councilors who could not arrive on time for the council session last Tuesday.
Barangay Claro M. Recto chairman Valentino Lagman berated members of the City Council for not starting the council session on time and for not having a definite schedule to start the session.
Using the session hall's podium, Lagman repeatedly called the attention of the crowd that gathered to witness the session, saying that "the council session should start on time."
Lagman also called the attention of the media on what he described as "lack of discipline" of the city councilors.
The session was supposed to start at 9 a.m. but Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, the council's presiding officer, opened it at 10:10 a.m. However, due to the lack of quorum and with only three councilors, Willie Rivera, Ruben Maniago and the SK Federation president were present, the session was adjourned.
Lagman said the councilors should do their responsibilities, especially attending the session scrupulously. He did not identify the councilors he was pertaining to.
According to the Local Government Code (LGC), "if there is still no quorum despite the enforcement of the immediately preceding subsection, no business shall be transacted. The presiding officer, upon proper motion duly approved by the members present, shall then declare the session adjourned for lack of quorum. (Section 53, Quorum).
A long-time employee of the City Council here said most sessions in Angeles City start relatively late in most instances.
Records revealed that a few of the councilors usually arrive early to City Hall.
The LGC recommends measure to enforce discipline: "The discipline of members for disorderly behavior and absences without justifiable cause for four consecutive sessions, for which they may be censured, reprimanded, or excluded from the session, suspended for not more than sixty days, or expelled: Provided, That the penalty of suspension or expulsion shall require the concurrence of at least two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the council members."
Internal rules enacted by the City Council can also be applied. (IOF)
