Anyone affected can file cases vs 7 majority councilors – Valle
THIRD REJECTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
REACTING to another rejections, the appeal to expedite the passage of the new supplemental budget of Dagupan by the seven councilors comprising the majority despite a certificate of urgency from Mayor Belen Fernandez, City Legal Officer Aurora Valle said the seven committed capricious and whimsical acts and are liable under the law.
Anyone affected by the non-passage of the supplemental budget can file a case for dereliction of duty against Councilors Alfie Fernandez, Redford Erfe-Mejia, Librada Reyna-Macalanda, Alvin Coquia, Celia Chua-Lim, Irene Lim-Acosta and Marilou Fernandez for not passing Supplemental Budget No. 2-2024 that allotted P557 million for various programs, projects and services of the Dagupan City government, with no valid reason.
City Mayor Belen Fernandez said there is a norm of conduct of public officials and if their actuations have gone beyond the limits, adversely affecting their constituents by delaying official action, these public officials are liable under the law.
Asked if she as city legal officer will file a case or cases against the seven majority councilors, Valle said, “we are still establishing a pattern of their unlawful conduct, misdemeanor and their continuous failure to exercise their sworn duties.”
The rejection last week was the third by the majority. The first was in 2022, the second in 2023 and the third was last May when it passed only seven percent of the requested P599 million supplemental budget.
Valle cited the SP session on May 28 when Mayor Fernandez’s voice was drowned by the simultaneous shouting and unruly behavior of Councilors Alfie Fernandez, Erfe-Mejia and Celia Lim, when she addressed the session on the authority of the vice mayor and presiding officer to provide details of the submitted supplemental budget for approval.
Contrary to the claim of the three councilors, Mayor Fernandez had the right to be at the session and to defend her proposed supplemental budget.
“May karapatan si Mayor na magsalita under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code,” Valle stressed.
Valle added the seven councilors did not cite any justifiable reason why they rejected the certification other than saying, “nobody can dictate on us”. (Leonardo Micua)
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