Negros councilor apologizes for punching colleague

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Councilor Claudio Puentevella of this city has apologized for punching his colleague during a council session on Wednesday.

Puentevella said he is not a violent person and was only provoked when Dindo Ramos shouted at him.

“I am not perfect and like many of us, I have my flaws... Standing up to one’s convictions can be very challenging and difficult,” Puentevella said.

He admitted that the  incident was “inappropriate.”

Ramos suffered a bruise on his left cheek after he was hit by Puentevella over an argument on the proposed contract of agreement for the construction of another sanitary landfill.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod is set to review its rules to determine if stiffer penalties will be imposed on its members who exhibit disorderly behavior.