Labella to lose committee chairmanship

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young has decided that Councilor Edgardo Labella must be stripped of his position as majority floor leader of the Cebu City Council as well as his chairmanship of the committee on laws.

Young met with councilors affiliated with the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) to get their sentiments about the issue.

“I leave that to the City Council on what to do,” said Young, who earlier gave Labella and Councilor Jose Daluz III one week to resign from their positions as the council’s majority and second assistant majority floor leaders.

Labella was interviewed by the reporters last Wednesday and he said that he wanted to resign from his position because he is no longer part of the majority, but he cannot do it because it might be considered as abandonment of post.

The north district councilor, who could no longer seek reelection in next year’s election due to term limits, already announced he is running as vice mayor in tandem with Mayor Michael Rama.

Young said that since Labella announced to the public that he wants to step down as majority floor, this is the time for the City Council to reorganize the chairmanships of the different committees.

Aside from replacing Labella as majority floor leader, Young said Labella will be stripped of his chairmanship of the committee on laws “kay basin lainon unya niya ang iyang legal opinion (He might give differing opinions).”

Whenever there will be topics in the agenda that needs legal opinion, the usual procedure of the City Council is to refer them to the committee on laws, ordinances and good government.

 In last Wednesday’s regular session, the City Council did not approve Labella’s proposed resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the renewal of contract with former city councilor Franklin Seno as consultant of the mayor for the reason that Seno was not around.

Labella asked for reconsideration, but his request was not approved.  (FREEMAN)