Dads told: Elect new majority floor leader

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella asked his fellow legislators to elect a new majority floor leader because he could no longer continue holding the position now that he already shifted his support to Mayor Michael Rama.

But while he wanted to be replaced, Labella said he could not resign as majority floor leader because resignation is not stipulated in their House Rules, requesting his colleagues to elect a new one.

The job of the majority floor leader of the City Council is to call the attention of the presiding officer when the discussion of issues is already out of order.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young earlier gave Labella and Councilor Jose Daluz III a week to resign from their posts as majority and assistant majority floor leaders, respectively.

But they did not resign because they wanted their colleagues to replace them.

Young said Labella and Daluz chose that they will be kicked out of their positions so they could be “martyrs” in the eyes of the public.

Labella had already announced his intention to run for vice mayor in tandem with Mayor Michael Rama in next year’s elections.

As for Rama, the mayor said: “They do have to resign. Naa ba’y procedure gisulti diha? Wala! Gamiton nila ang parliamentary procedure. I’m a teacher of parliamentary procedure.”

“If there is such a thing as schism, it goes without saying it now behopes upon the presiding officer being the vice mayor to call that meeting and come out with their own caucus and do their own re-organization,” he added.

According to Labella, the rules clearly stated that once the majority leader will become incapacitated to perform his job, the council will quickly call a meeting and conduct elections to elect a replacement.

When asked by The FREEMAN if his support to Rama rendered him incapable to do his job, Labella said “Yes I think.” — (FREEMAN)