CITY Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia denied that he and the six other members of the majority in the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod intentionally planned on not showing up at their scheduled meeting last June 23, 2 p.m. with Mayor Belen Fernandez at city hall.

In his privilege speech on June 26, Erfe-Mejia said he had written a letter duly received by the office of City Legal Officer Aurora Valle informing her that they could not attend the meeting because his fellow members in the majority had prior commitments.

He said it was in response to the formal letter of Mayor Fernandez inviting members of the majority to a meeting at city hall as he had requested.

“ I called the City Legal Officer (on June 22) and apologized that we could not come, not only because of the short notice but because they had prior commitments that they had to attend to.

He said Legal Officer Valle told him (Erfe-Mejia) to put his response in writing, and which was delivered to Valle’s office at 10:00 a.m. in the day of the meeting.

He admitted that when he attended the meeting of the Local Development Council, it was a sign that the majority councilors “are opening our doors for talks with the city mayor.”

Erfe-Mejia, chairman of the committee on finance, budget and appropriations, admitted that he requested for the meeting during the LDC meeting but because of the short notice, he told the City Legal Officer that he had little time to consult the other members of his committee.

During the LDC meeting, Mayor Fernandez granted Erfe-Mejia’s request for a meeting and set the meeting at city hall at 2:00 p.m. on June 23 to which  Erfe-Mejia agreed and remarked “Usapang lalake ito.” (Referring to his being a man of his word).

Erfe-Meja said he was saddened by Mayor Fernandez’s accusation that they failed to keep their word and kept her waiting at the city hall for a meeting that he personally requested.

Vice Mayor Bryan Kua and Councilors Michael Fernandez, Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Lino Fernandez and Joshua Bugayong kept the mayor company while waiting for the majority councilors to appear.

“Wala kayong ebidensiya na hindi kami sumipot intentionally na hindi kami pumunta,” Erfe-Mejoa said, saying they sent a letter informing her of their inability to be at the meeting.

He added: “Ang pakiusap ko lang sa ating mga colleagues sa Sagguniang Pannlungsod. Please refrain from making issues about the majority versus the city administration.” (Leonardo Micua)

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