CEBU City Mayor Edgardo Labella wants to amend some of the quasi-judicial functions of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in all the cities in the country.
The former ombudsman director—elected as the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) national chairman on July 19, 2019—said there is a need to make some changes in the way that an SP investigates an erring barangay official.
The SP has an administrative disciplinary authority over the barangay captains; however, the inquiry will be muddled if it is mixed up with political biases, Labella said.
“When the SP investigates a barangay official, there is that perception that it has some political color; and we need to get away (from that),” Labella said.
Something needs to be done to remove this perception of political biases, said Labella. However, he did not elaborate as he still has to meet with his fellow LCP officials.
Labella also eyes the possibility of increasing the local government units’ (LGUs) share of the internal revenue allotment.
He further said that some provisions of the Local Government Code has to be amended.
These will be tackled during an LCP meeting in Davao City in September, he said. (JJL)