LP won’t allow ex-officio members to participate in committee chair selection
ROXAS CITY – Citing the Department of Interior and Local Government opinion in 1998 stating that all ex-officio members of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan could not participate in the selection of committee chairmanships, board members from the Liberal Party pushed to follow the said opinion.
Board Member Remia Fuentes-Bartolome of LP moved during Monday’s special session that ex-officio members such as the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president, Liga ng Mga Barangay Federation president and Philippine Councilor League president should not be included in the selection process of committee chairmanships.
However, Board Member Jeffrey Layo of Lakas-Kampi CMD/Ugyon Kita Capiz refuted the DILG opinion, saying it is a mere opinion made “for the sake of information.”
Layo also pointed out it is only the court that can decide whether it can be applied during the session, adding that the opinion is not a jurisprudence.
The debate took place until 8 p.m. Monday between members of the two parties.
The LP members include Board Members Bartolome, Eduardo Magallanes, Roberto Ignacio, Aldwin Cruz Am, and Jonathan Besa.
Those on the opposite side are Layo, Blesilda Almalbis, James Magbanua, Carmilo Robles, and Mimi Ardivilla.
The ex-officio members who belong to the Lakas-Kampi CMD/UCK are Liga President Clemente Firmalino, SK Federation President Bettina Bayot, and PCL Vice President Francis Dave Juanico.
Juanico, by law of succession, joined the Sanggunian to fill a vacuum after previous PCL president and Panitan Councilor David Bauson, who ran for board member, lost in the recent election.
However, Magallanes also questioned the legality of Juanico’s takeover, saying that the term of Bauson and other PCL officers already expired on June 30.
Magbanua, on the other hand, defended Juanico saying that the councilor was recognized by his colleagues during the inaugural session last week.
With the three ex-officio members belonging to the Lakas-Kampi CMD/UKC, the party is now the majority in the Provincial Board.
Lakas-Kampi CMD/UKC is chaired by Former Rep. Fredenil Castro, with former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante as vice chair.
When the session ended Monday night, Vice Gov. Esteban Contreras ruled that the selection of committee chairmanships be set aside.
After LP members in the Roxas City Council dominated the committee chairmanships last week, reports said the Lakas-Kampi CMD/UKC board members are getting back at their rival party by taking majority of the committee chairmanships in the Provincial Board.
However, Layo denied that their bloc is planning to dominate the committee chairmanships.
“We will work harmoniously with other board members regardless of their political affiliation,” Layo said.
