Delayed Dagupan SP session minutes finally approved
AIMING for a clean slate before the year 2024 ends, the new majority in the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dagupan City approved 11 of 12 minutes of previous sessions that remained pending due to deliberate inaction by the former majority, in violation of the Local Government Code.
In their session last December 17, Councilor and new Majority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez moved for the adoption of the minutes of these sessions, some dating back October 3, 2023, which the former majority councilors were refused to adopt.
He highlighted the expletive “grabe sinungaling, animal!” uttered by Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia in the October 3, 2023 session, apparently directed at Vice Mayor Bryan Kua, as the possible reason why the former majority did not approve the minutes of that session.
The minutes of the rowdy session on October 10, 2023 caught Councilors Erfe-Mejia, Irene Lim-Acosta and Alfie Fernandez bad-mouthing and hurling vitriolic statements against Kua, actions that resulted in the filing of criminal and administrative cases against them.
In the voting for the adoption of the minutes of the October 3 and 10 sessions, Kua broke the 4-4 tie in favor of adoption. Councilor Bradley Benavidez was not allowed to vote as his position was then still being occupied by former Sangguniang Kabataan president Joshua Bugayong.
Also approved were the minutes of the session on October 31, 2023, March 12, 2024, May 21, May 28, June 11, and June 18.
In the discussion of all the minutes of the October 22, 2024 session, Councilor Celia Lim stood up and manifested that they are going to register their objection on all the other minutes to be laid down.
Nevertheless, the voting was 4-3 in favor of the adoption.
Also adopted were the minutes of the October 25 special session, and December 5 wherein members of the new minority councilors did not attend.
The only minutes not approved were that of the October 29, 2024 session, which was opposed by four former majority councilors that attended the session and only three in favor as their two colleagues are absent. (Leonardo Micua)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
