Team Rama councilors to lose chairmanships

CEBU, Philippines - With Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) getting the majority in the City Council with the impending return of Councilor Jerry Guardo, councilors allied with Team Rama are expected to lose chairmanships in the Council’s committees.

“The first thing we have to do is to reorganize the committees,” BOPK’s leader, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, told reporters yesterday.

Team Rama councilors held the majority bloc in the Council until Guardo shifted allegiance in March this year.

BOPK now has nine members in the Council, including Margarita Osmeña, Mary Ann de los Santos, Sisinio Andales, Joy Augustus Young, Alvin Arcilla, David Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella, and Eugenio Gabuya, Jr.

Meanwhile, Team Rama has eight: Jose Daluz III, Eduardo Rama, James Anthony Cuenco, Pastor Alcover, Jr., Joel Garganera, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Jocelyn Pesquera and Phillip Zafra.

Guardo, however, was suspended for failing to submit a year-end financial report to the Commission on Audit when he was still barangay captain of Sambag 1 but the Ombudsman converted his suspension into fine, allowing him to return to the Council.

Guardo confirmed receiving a call from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) telling him he can already return to work but he will reportedly wait for an official written order lifting his suspension.

“Actually, I received a call from DILG-City yesterday (Monday) that I can report officially but akong concern man gud, walay written order nga na-lift na gyud akong suspension then I consulted sa party also so I’ll wait the official memo of DILG-Manila,” he said.

In an interview, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella of Team Rama said the movements are part of the democratic process.

“Well, that’s the prerogative of the majority. That’s how democracy works. We will always abide by the consensus or the rule of the majority… respetohan lang na nato, that’s how democracy works,” he said.

“Whether majority or minority, let’s do our job… as long as Team Rama in the Council is concerned, as I have said over and over again, we will just play our role… check and balance and never as obstructionist, mao ra gyud na,” he added.

For now, Team Rama councilors hold the committee chairmanships. (FREEMAN)