Mandaue council revamp pushes through

Despite strong objection from Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, the majority of the Mandaue City Council on Thursday adopted and approved Resolution 181-2018 reconstituting the composition of some standing regular committees.

City Councilor Nenita Ceniza-Layese, who belongs to the majority and opposition bloc of the city council, said the resolution was “duly adopted by the majority members” of the city council.

Earlier, Fortuna, the presiding officer, had declared the resolution as wrong and “out of order.”

Layese, a lawyer, said members of the majority bloc, passed the resolution after Fortuna declared the session adjourned and walked out together with five other administration-allied councilors.

She dismissed Fortuna’s earlier contention that the resolution was wrong as the city council could not constitute a revamp unless the position would be vacant.

“Who decides it was (a) wrong resolution? It must be voted by the Sanggunian whether it’s wrong or not. He (Fortuna) only presides. He should not decide,” she said.

Fortuna, for his part, said the presiding officer has the power “to rule and decide on every motion or resolution presented on the floor.”

Layese explained that the revamp has to push through because there were regular council committees chaired by the late Councilor Demetrio Cortes Jr. that has to be filled up.

She said the council also has to abide by existing laws in terms of the chairmanship of the committee on youth and sports development.

She cited the Sangguniang Kabataan law specifically Section 22, which states that a duly elected president of the Pederasyon ng Sanggunian Kabataan, at all levels, shall serve as ex-officio member of Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panglungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan, respectively.