Tension grips council over question on who succeeds vice mayor

By NITZ ARANCON
and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondents

COUNCILORS yesterday nearly engaged each other in a heated debate over the question on who would succeed as vice mayor in the event that Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas becomes mayor by way of automatic succession.

But seasoned councilor Ramon Tabor, who presided over the session of the city council, cut the heating debate short, and ruled to drop the topic, saying the discussion was “premature.”

As this developed, former Taglimao barangay chairman William Guialani trashed the city council over its inaction on the controversial settlement between city hall and Ajinomoto Philippines that reduced the firm’s local taxes from P2.9 million to P300 thousand.

It was Guialani’s complaint filed before the ombudsman that resulted in an order to dismiss and perpetually bar Mayor Oscar Moreno from holding public office. The ombudsman’s ruling was also what sparked yesterday’s debate at the city council.

Guialani said, “Dawat limpiyo lang sila diha… nagpadako sa ilang itlog.”

At the city council, Councilor Roger Abaday called on local legislators to prepare, and decide whether Tabor or Councilor Lourdes Darimbang would succeed Acenas in case the mayor is booted out of office because of the Guialani case.

Councilor Zaldy Ocon, a Moreno ally, responded and quickly pointed out that there was no need for the city council to prepare because the ombudsman has yet to rule with finality on the Guialani case.

Councilor President Elipe reacted and then raised a point of order, prompting Tabor to state that Ocon still had one minute more to say his piece.

Irked, Ocon faced Tabor, looked him straight in the eye, and told him: “Gipasagdan mo si Abaday nga taas iyang report. Tungod ba kay ang iyang report pabor ninyo?”

Ocon’s remark caused an obvious tension in the city council, including the gallery, prompting Tabor to  declare for a one-minute recess. When the session resumed, Tabor ruled to terminate the discussion on Acenas’s likely successor, calling it “premature.”

Guialani, meanwhile, lashed out at Acenas and Councilor Darimbang for preparing to assume higher posts in light of the ombudsman’s ruling, and the city council for not helping in the prosecution of Moreno.

He noted that not one member of the city council filed a complaint against Moreno or city treasurer Glenn Bañez in connection with the city hall-Ajinomoto tax settlement.

“Dawat limpiyo lang  sila diha. Labon adtong una wala  gyud sila mopasaka ug kaso batok ni Moreno kay unsa man, hadlok sila?” Guialani asked.

He accused the city council of allegedly not fulfilling its mandate to protect the Cagayanons’ interest.

“Nanumpa sila sa ilang katungdanan nga  manalipod sila sa buhis sa mga kabus,  unya karon   asa man diha ang ilang gipanompa-an? Ako ra man ang nag-file ug kaso, unsa man sila, nagpadako sa ilang itlog?”  asked Guialani rhetorically.

He said he used his own money in the lawsuit, and city council members did not spend anything to support his complaint. He said he even had to dig up evidence himself by asking from a secretary at the Regional Trial Court Branch 17, and from the National Mediation Board.

Councilor Alexander Dacer’s response: “Naunhan lang mi ni Guialani.”

Dacer said councilors would have sued Moreno and Bañez had Guialani not file the complaint.

“Di man ni palumbaay,” said Dacer.