24 Manila councilors quit committee posts

A total of 24 of the 36 councilors of the City of Manila resigned yesterday from their respective committees in order to show sympathy for Manila Councilor Dennis Alcoreza, after he was reportedly dragged by policemen out of the Vitas Slaughter House in Tondo, Manila on Friday.

During yesterday’s Manila City Council session, the 24 councilors, including Alcoreza,  resigned from their respective committees. However, the resignation only lasted for a while since they eventually held another election later yesterday.

Among those who expressed disappointment over the treatment being accorded to Alcoreza  were Councilors Ma. Lourdes Isip-Garcia, Jocelyn Dawis-Asuncion, Marlon Lacson, Victoriano Melendez, Rolando Sy, Ernesto Rivera, Moises Lim, Numero Lim, Amalia Tolentino, Louisito Chua, Jocelyn Quintos, Erick Ian Nieva, and Monina Silva.

Others were Corazon Gernale, Ma. Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan, Raymundo Yupangco, Ivy Varona, Rolando Valeriano, Arlene Koa, Ramon Morales, Joel Chua,  Christina Ispi, and  Majority Floor leader Councilor Manuel “Let-Let” Zarcal.

Zarcal  led the group in resigning their posts.

The 12 other councilors did not join the protest of the 24 councilors.

On the other hand, 23 sympathizing councilors did not protest the Manila City Hall’s  takeover of the Vitas Slaughterhouse being operated by the Dealco farms,  but  the “arbitrary” acts of the policemen in dragging  Alcoreza out of the slaughterhouse as if “he was a pig.”

The councilors said the acts of the policemen of the Manila Police District was a clear sign of disrespect to a public official. It is the act of the policemen of bodily removing  Alcoreza and his sister, Joy, executive vice president of Dealco Farms Inc., out of the slaughterhouse  as if they are “pigs”, which the councilors were protesting, Zarcal said in resigning his post. 

 The councilors also said that assuming Dealco committed mistakes and abuses in their operations, the city government officials and the policemen have no right to do such arbitrary acts against Alcoreza or any other persons.

While Manila Vice  Mayor Francisco Domagoso, also known as “Isko Moreno,”   respected the rights of the councilors, he said there is an urgent need to reorganize the city council so as not to hamper the public service. Before the session ended, the City council members decided to re-organize their council.

 Zarcal was reelected as Majority floor leader and Lacson was re-elected as  Pro-tempore Pangan was not reelected, as Councilor Edward Maceda replaced him.