Dagupan b’gay heads seek ouster of Liga head

DAGUPAN CITY — After five failed attempts, 27 of this city’s 31 barangay captains plotted their own "coup" to unseat the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

The 27 barangay heads finally signed a petition against councilor Eric Muñoz, the Liga’s president, the other day, and forwarded it to James Marty Lim, national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

The 27 barangay officials petitioned Lim to reorganize the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay on several grounds.

First, they said the Liga officers already tendered their mass resignation effective last Feb. 22, thus there is a need to elect a new set of officers.

Second, they claimed that the present Liga leadership has been remiss on its duties and responsibilities, and is thus unable to render the desired services to the city’s barangays.

Third, they accused Muñoz, barangay captain of Tambac and an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, of habitual absenteeism in the regular and special sessions of the council.

As a result, they said Muñoz was not able to pass significant measures attendant to his position.

Fourth, they said majority of Liga members have irreconcilable differences with the present leadership, greatly affecting the smooth operation of the organization.

"As a result… we have lost our trust and confidence in him," the petition read.

Reached by The STAR for comment, Muñoz said the petitioners must observe due process and ventilate their grievances in the proper forum.

He said that within 60 days upon receipt of their petition after due verification and review, he will be given seven days to answer the charges and then the national board of the Liga ng mga Barangay will decide within 10 days thereafter whether to reorganize the city’s Liga or not.

"I respect their grievances but they should also wait for my reply," he said.

Muñoz denied that he has been remiss in his job in the city council, saying that his absences were either on official business as he attended national meetings or with justifiable reasons and proper notice to the council’s presiding officer, Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez.

"It (petition) will not hold water," he said, adding that loss of confidence is not among the grounds for disciplinary action against Liga presidents like him.

"Our tenure is protected by law," he said.

Despite the mass resignation of the city’s Liga officers, Muñoz said he will continue to perform his job as the Liga representative in the city council.