'I only shepherd my flock,' says Mabilog
Now, it can be told. Even before the votation on who will become the chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on ways and means happened on Wednesday majority of the councilors have decided to give the chairmanship of the said committee to Councilor Antonio Pesina instead of opposition councilor Perla Zulueta.
Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, however, said some of the administration councilors have changed their position during the votation which resulted to a tie between Pesina and Zulueta. It was Mabilog who broke the tie by relinquishing his chair as presiding officer and vote in favor of Pesina.
Mabilog said his colleagues have earlier agreed in front of Mayor Jerry Treñas that the committee on ways and means be given to Pesina.
Mabilog's vote became the deciding factor on the selection of the chairmanship after Zulueta and Pesina garnered seven votes each. Those who voted for Zulueta were Councilors Eduardo Peñaredondo, Jose Espinosa III, Erwin Plagata, Stevie Rey Abitang, Marietta Orleans and Nielex Tupas.
Peñaredondo, Espinosa and Plagata belong to the administration group. Abitang and Orleans are also deemed allied with the administration. Tupas, belongs to the opposition.
"I only shepherd my flock," he said.
Zulueta was not given any committee chairmanship.
"Well, it's their call. I'll just stick to my job of being a watchdog here in the city council," Zulueta said in a radio interview.
Mabilog welcomes the pronouncement of Zulueta to become the watchdog or fiscalizer of the city council. "The work of being a fiscalizer do not only belong to one person but to all the members of the city and all the people," he added.