MISAMIS Oriental Vice Governor Joey Pelaez and board member President Elipe have once again engaged in a heated argument during Monday’s regular session at the Provincial Board.
The bickering began when Elipe questioned the alleged delay of the approved legislative measures from the office of the vice governor.
Elipe raised the matter before the plenary after noticing that some of his authored resolutions reviewing the ordinances of the different towns, which were already approved by the body, were not yet released because Pelaez has yet to sign them.
“It was merely procedural I am asking unsa kadugay ang (how long the resolution mogawas (will be released) after approved sa plenary (the plenary approved it) because there are still documents even from 2018 nga hangtod karon wala pa makagawas (that until now they are still not released),” Elipe said.
Elipe, who is seeking the vice-gubernatorial seat, is asking Pelaez not to delay the signing of the legislative measures so that services in the municipal government will not be hampered.
Elipe even called Pelaez a “dictator” for supposedly signing the documents “only when the latter feels like signing it.”
“The plenary is not the office of the Vice Governor. Sa imong office ikaw matuman pero (in your office, your will be done, but) the SP (Sangguniang Panlalawigan or Provincial Board) is an institution, it is the SP who decides,” Elipe told Pelaez during the session.
Elipe said any board member has the right to demand for copies of the approved and signed documents from the office of the vice governor.
But, Pelaez was not happy with Elipe’s manifestation, which for him, was seemed to accuse him of deliberately delaying the signing of the legislative measures.
Pelaez said he may not have signed the documents immediately because the board’s secretary is checking the documents first for grammar and typographical errors.
He also said in some instances, he is out of his office for official business which have caused the delay.
“Once it reached my office and I am available because sometimes I’m on travel going around so once I have the time to sit down I’ll sign it. But he (Elipe) is alluding that we are deliberately delaying it,” he added.
Pelaez said the delay may only take one to two weeks the most.
The capitol’s second top official also hit backs at Elipe for making the “dictator” remarks, saying he and the board members have had good working relationship since 2013 and it was only disturbed when Elipe sits as board member last October.
But, Elipe said he was not making trouble but only raising a question of privilege on the delay of certain documents approved by the provincial board.