30-min council session draws suspicions

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council had the shortest session in its history by far yesterday, lasting only 30 minutes.

Talks immediately circulated that allies of Mayor Michael Rama, as well as the so-called ‘independent bloc,’ staged the scenario to converge and push for the council’s reorganization but Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, the council’s presiding officer, was quick to shrug this off.

He said the only reason the session stopped abruptly was because of ‘procedural matters.’

“There’s nothing unusual. We discussed about privilege motion, subsidiary motion and all sorts of motions. There was no discussion on politics but only about procedural matters. Di man sila ka-decide and come up with a ruling, that’s why I was called up,” he told reporters after convening all councilors.

The councilors started the regular session at 9 a.m. by revisiting the minutes of the previous meetings. Councilor Philip Zafra then expressed intent to deliver a privilege speech but before he could take the floor, Councilor Sisinio Andales moved for a recess.

However, people in the gallery started getting suspicious when what was supposed to be a three-minute request turned to 40 minutes and when councilors allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan went out of the session hall and proceeded to an adjacent room.   

Separately, members of Team Rama and the ‘independent bloc’ also gathered together with former city councilors Jose Daluz III and Eduardo Rama Jr.

It was only at 10:15 a.m. when the councilors returned to the session hall and tackled but two things – the privilege speech of Councilor Nestor Archival and the declaration of a state of calamity for Barangay Luz, which was hit by a massive fire the other day.

The session was adjourned but another meeting was called, this time, with all the councilors present.

Sought for information, Councilor Margarita Osmeña of BOPK refused to disclose what transpired in the second meeting.

“We have agreed that we will just let the vice mayor speak for all of us as he is the head of the Council. Whatever he said, that’s it and let’s keep it at that. There will always be talks about that (re-organization), I know it’s something unusual what happened this morning,” she said yesterday.

Before going into the meeting, however, Labella and councilors Archival and Gerardo Carillo, said “reorganization” would be one of the items for discussion.

“It has something to do with reorganization and other items in the agenda. If there would be reorganization, it should be for the betterment of the city so our projects can be better implemented,” Carillo said.

“Madugo ni because naa’y i-introduce karon na very controversial and that would split the council if otherwise this will not be settled. We need to discuss together the issues and come out with solutions so that this early dili mi magkabungkag,” he added. – (FREEMAN)