THE majority bloc in the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod was accused this time of doing committee hearings on proposed measures filed by the minority.

Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez again decried another “hijacking” of the minority’s proposed ordinance by the majority bloc, which the latter submitted for first reading and went through the usual committee hearings by the joint committees on laws, ordinances and judiciary and by the committee on finance, budget and appropriations.

Councilor Fernandez said he and his colleagues, Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavidez were the original authors of Draft Ordinance No. 0-882, which is an ordinance that seeks to institutionalize the Dagupan City Justice Zone to enhance coordination among the justice sector, ensuring better justice to our citizens, and appropriating funds for its implementation.”

“Nalulungkot po kami na dito sa ating agenda natin, under Second Reading, ay mayron nang Draft Ordinance 0-893,” Fernandez said. “Pinalitan na nga yong docket number, pinalitan pa ang mga authors!”

The new authors were Councilors Alvin Coquia, Redford Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Marilou Fernandez, Celia Lim and Irene Lim-Acosta.

Fernandez said he was earlier assured by Erfe-Mejia that the original authors will not be removed, but this did not happen as gleaned from the joint committee report submitted to the plenary of the Sanggunian.

Fernandez said that during the committee hearing, he asked members of the majority bloc if they have any suggestion that could help make the draft ordinance more helpful to the people of Dagupan City seeking justice, but everybody was silent.

It was only during the period of the amendment, that Majority Floor Leader Macalanda read several amendments to the measure in an obvious move to make it appear they were the ones who crafted the ordinance, although it was Fernandez who attended the Justice Zone meeting.

Fernandez charged that the majority councilors continuously hijack in mid-air the resolutions and ordinances filed by the minority block only for the purpose of having their names written on those measures without merit, prompting him to believe that the committee hearings being conducted by the majority councilors on resolutions and ordinances being filed are being done purely “in aid of election”.

As usual, the majority bloc evaded responding to Fernandez by moving to another topic of the agenda. (Leonardo Micua)

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