The vice mayor and three opposition councilors in Tanjay City, Oriental Negros, walked out during the annual budget and investment plan hearing at the city session hall Tuesday.

Vice Mayor Lawrence Teves left the session hall with Councilors Errki Lozarita, Juvelo Napao and Earl Condes.

Councilor Roy Lozano, chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriations, said that, during the discussion of the budget and annual investment plan, some members of the Sanggunian requested for the presence of department heads to clarify the figures stipulated in the investment plan.

Lozano said that, after the deliberation, some councilors were not satisfied with the explanation of some department heads.

He said that, after the inquiry, as chairman of the committee, he moved for the approval of the annual investment plan and called for the division of the house to break the impasse.

Napao told the body that if the AIP is approved he will walk out from the session hall. Lozarita followed, stating that they have no objection, but simply wanted to walk out.

When Napao stood up, Condes and Teves followed and they left the session hall.

Provincial legal counsel Erwin Vergara said, the action of the vice mayor was very unethical and unparliamentary. As presiding officer, Teves should have called for a recess, he added.

Vergara said Teves and the three councilors could be liable because their actions were "unprocedural." Had it happened in court, they could have been charged with direct contempt, he said.

The session should not be abandoned, considering that they were discussing the city annual budget, Vergara stressed.

The Provincial Legal Office will conduct an independent investigation of the matter.

Gov. George Arnaiz said the incident must have been tainted with political color, considering that election is approaching. The regular session was covered live by a local cable station in Tanjay.*MA

back to top