VERBAL TUSSLE
Political squabble shakes Antique provincial board

San Jose, Antique—What seemed to be a session of an “august body” was marred by incidents that seemed to be uncalled-for of local legislators.

After Governor Sally Z. Perez finished delivering her State of the Province Address (Sopa) about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, administration Board Member Silvestre Untaran Jr. moved to adjourn the session which was promptly seconded.

The session could have ended smoothly and peacefully had the presiding officer, Vice Governor Rhodora Cadiao, entertained the objection raised by opposition Board Member Errol Santillan.

What happened next was a verbal tussle among the majority and minority members.

Observers presume that the conflict that ensued relative to the Governor's SOPA was an offshoot of the brewing controversy emanating from the remarks of a member that was published in a local tabloid calling the Sangguniang Panlalawigan a “stamping pad” of the Perez administration.

On Wednesday Board Members Juanita de la Cruz, Silvestre Untaran Jr., Calixto Zaldivar II and employees from the Governor's Office went to the SP Session Hall to prepare the venue for Thursday's SOPA, only to find the session hall padlocked.

Several efforts were made to locate the SP doorman.

Board Member Untaran described the happening as “the first in the history of Antique SP”, saying that he is “used to arguing matters in the session hall, but this is different.”

The door's glass panel had to be smashed to make their entry. It was a heyday for the media who ogled and got interviews from officials present.

Cadiao when reached by the Iloilo media said that her leaving the door of the Session Hall padlocked was unintentional.

She said after preparing the Session Hall for the next day's session she immediately left for the north of the province where she had an important appointment.

Cadiao said Perez's allies in the provincial board merely overreacted.

To note, during her Sopa last year, the SP prepared much for the occasion with the Vice Governor at the lead.

Cadiao had even initiated a reconciliation between Antique Congressman Exequiel B. Javier and Governor Perez.