THE minority bloc in the Sangguniang Panlungsod deplored the arbitrary practice of the majority bloc hijacking their proposed resolutions and ordinances earlier referred to standing committees that the majority control only to be resubmitted after a few months “word for word” and naming themselves as authors.

This was exposed by Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez in a privilege speech during the July 22 regular session of the SP, which were reiterated by Councilors Jeslito Seen, Marcelino Fernandez and Dennis Canto in their own follow up privilege speeches.

In a text message to The PUNCH, Seen said: “This is plagiarism if not a daylight robbery”.

“We are expected to conduct ourselves in accordance with the highest integrity and honor. Where is our sense of propriety when you appropriated to yourselves something that clearly belongs to somebody else?” Fernandez asked pointedly.

He said Ordinance No. 0-856 was not an isolated case and cited a slew of resolutions and ordinances that the minority bloc had authored and submitted to the standing committees composed of the seven majority councilors that they subsequently claimed to be their own.

He said Ordinance No. 0-875 that was subject of first reading on May 28, 2024 and was also replaced with Ordinance No. 886 by the majority, with the same identical contents.

Ordinance No. 0-856 originally drafted and authored by the minority councilors, authorizing the City Health Office in the disposition of the PhilHealth benefit package amounting to P22,449 to each Covid-19 patients, was referred to the committee of the seven majority councilors on March 26, 2024.

He said the majority later submitted Draft Ordinance No. 0-877 which was completely identical with Draft Ordinance No. 0-856, copying sections 1-6 verbatim.

Draft Ordinance No. 0-856 was authored jointly by Councilors Michael Fernandez, Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavides. The identical Draft Ordinance No. 0-877 filed by the majority at a much later date, named themselves, Councilors Librada Reyna-Maclanda, Alvin Coquia, Marilou Fernandez, Celia Lim, Alfie Fernandez, Redford Efe-Mejia and Irene Lim-Acosta as authors.

Councilor Macalanda tried to explain the identical provisions as a pro forma ordinance from the Department of Health, and not an original draft from the minority.  She ultimately apologized to the minority for the wrong committed then called on Vice Mayor and presiding Officer Bryan Kua to proceed with the voting of the measures to stop the debate.

Fernandez  said he and his colleagues in the minority did not object to the passage knowing that the City Health Office needs to distribute the cash grants from  the Department of Health to the Covid-19 beneficiaries. “It’s the best interest of the general welfare that the funds allotted by DOH be utilized for the purpose.” (Leonardo Micua)

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