Bacolod councilor issues public apology for hitting co-councilor

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A councilor of Bacolod City, who attacked his fellow councilor during the regular session on Wednesday at the City Council, has made a public apology for what he did, claiming he was bullied.

Councilor Claudio “Kalaw” Puentevella, who described himself as non-violent person, claimed that he was provoked by Councilor Dindo Ramos who shouted at him, stressing also that he was only protecting his dignity and rights.

Ramos sustained a bruise on his left cheek after being hit by Puentevella over an argument on the proposed contract of agreement between the city government and IPM-CDC for the construction of cell number 2 in the sanitary landfill at Barangay Felisa in Bacolod City, with a budget of P50 million.

Puentevella, son of former Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella, was excluded from further attending the session, based on the resolution approved by majority of the City Council members, as an offshoot of the incident.

“I am not perfect and like many of us, I have my own flaws,” Puentevella admitted. “Standing up to one’s convictions can be very challenging and difficult, one can endure so much, and one can turn a blind eye for so long. Someone has got to stand up eventually for bullying,” he said.

The Bacolod City Council is expected to review its internal rules to determine if stiffer penalties can be imposed on members of the Council involved in disorderly behavior, said Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who also believed that the incident will not happen again.

While admitting that the incident was inappropriate, Puentevella said he hopes it will not deviate public perception from the real reason why he stood his ground.

Ramos, on the other hand, said he is filing criminal and administrative charges against Puentevella nexr week.