CRIMINAL PRACTICE EXPOSED ANEW

ANOTHER resolution authored by Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez, which was filed, submitted for first reading, and referred to corresponding committees controlled by the majority councilors four months ago, has again been hijacked by the majority who reintroduced it as their draft resolution during the July 30 regular session.

The draft in question is R-6410 entitled a resolution “authorizing her Honor City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez to enter into a term of partnership with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development 1 represented by Regional Director Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco for the management and implementation of the 2023-2025 Local Investment Health Plan/ Annual Operational Plan of the City Health OfficeD consistent with the Universal Health Plan,” with all seven majority councilors listed as authors.

Fernandez said Resolution No. 6410 is similar to his Draft Resolution No. R-6382, which has a similar title, same contents, same purpose, and the same project amount.

He maintained that the newly-filed resolution introduced by majority Councilors Redford Erfe-Mejia, Librada Reyna, Alipio Serafin Fernandez, Alvin Coquia, Celia Lim, Marilou Fernandez and Irene Lim-Acosta pertains to the same term of partnership referred to in his resolution and only his name as author was changed.

A copy of the agenda of the SP regulars session on April 16 shows Resolution No. R-6832 was calendared for first reading and referred to corresponding standing committees controlled by the majority bloc.

Fernandez said this incident reinforces the pattern of unethical conduct and practice of the majority, which was already called out by the minority bloc during the SP’s previous session.

He had previously cited a slew of resolutions and ordinances that the minority bloc had authored and submitted to the standing committees, then later refiled and claimed by the majority councilors as their own.

The minority again objected to the majority’s practice of falsely claiming credit, but Fernandez said the minority is compelled to support the resolution “because it is practically the same as Draft Resolution No. R-6382.”

“For the benefit of the general welfare and in order to deliver the needed services which is pending since April 2024 we support Draft Resolution No. 6410 with reservation,” he added.

Erfe-Mejia, who moved for the passage of Draft Resolution No. R-6410, did not refute the claims of Fernandez. (Leonardo Micua)

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