AT THE Cagayan de Oro City Council attendance check, the name of Councilor Dante Pajo never missed the roll call—the public official has an impressive record when it comes to attending regular sessions.
In contrast, youth representative Kreena Vi Poquita missed at least 13 sessions out of 48 last year—the most for any member of the City Council.
No worries for Poquita, however: Vice Mayor Vicente Emano still holds the distinction of being the most “absinot” member in the legislative body, having attended the weekly session only once since he was elected into office in 2007.
Poquita is closely followed by Majority Floor Leader Ramon Tabor with 12 absences; Councilor President Elipe, 12 absences, two of which incurred while on official business; Councilor Mary Cor Calizo with 10, one on official business.
Aside from Pajo, no one scored a perfect attendance last year.
Councilors Zaldy Ocon, Roger Abaday, Reynaldo Advinculla and Emanuel Abejuella all missed only one session.
Emano’s chronic absenteeism is a subject of an administrative complaint brought by minority councilors, who view his consistent nonattendance to regular sessions as blatant display of abuse in power and dereliction of duty.
For his part, the vice mayor always attributes his no-show on “matters of equal importance” to his official functions. (Nicole J. Managbanag/DVA)