Orleans still enjoys her post

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Councilor Marrieta Orleans still has the reason to smile and enjoy after the move to strip her of her position as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay was dumped by the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP).

In last Wednesday’s regular session, the council did not take action on the quo warranto and mandamus case filed by Ortiz Barangay Capt. Lorenzo Castillano.

Castillano recently filed a quo warranto case against Orleans and mandamus case to compel the city council to unseat her as he claimed that her term already expired. He also asked City Treasurer Katherine Tingson to stop paying Orlean’s salary.

Instead, the city council asked for Orleans comment regarding the case. No division of the house was made. Castillano and his group were not even present during the session unlike last year where they filled the SP session hall.

Orleans, in her emotional speech, stressed she is still the Liga president and  her term of office is extended until 2007. She added they still have a pending case in court of the same nature. It was learned that the previous case was incorporated with the recent case filed by Castillano.

Orleans who spoke very angrily said “they have no right” to unseat her. She surmised that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sr. is behind persistent moves to unseat her.
“He (Gonzalez) could not dictate me on what to do,” she pointed out.

Orleans and Gonzalez were former political allies but something along the way went wrong.

She said if Castillano is pushing that her term already ended, then Sangguniang Kabataan president Stevie Rey Abitang's term should also end.

“The same holds true in the entire country, I am no exception to that,” Orleans said.
Councilor Perla Zulueta came in defense of Orleans upon seeing that the elderly ex-officio councilor is steaming with anger.

Zulueta who also spoke in Hiligaynon said “mas akusaron kita niya kon indi ta sia pagsweldohan (we could be liable if we don't recognize her) ,” referring to Castillano's mandamus case.