DESPITE being in power at the City Council, Vice Mayor Jocelyn “Bebot” Rodriguez still helpless after the majority bloc took down one of her important powers “in the conduct of its business” from the proposed house rules’ version by the minority during the inaugural session, Monday.

Even of the three items on the agenda, two proposed resolutions No. 2022-1 the Rules of Procedure of the 20th City Council, and proposed resolution No. 2022-2, the election of the officers were approved with the majority voted 12-6 respectively.

The majority also ruled the entire proceedings were the following councilors elected officials of the 20th City Council such as Councilor Edgar Cabanlas, Presiding Officer Protempore; Ian Mark Nacaya as Majority Floor Leader; Romeo Calizo, Asst. Floor Leader; while James Judith as Minority Floor Leader and Jose Abbu Asst. Minority Floor Leader.

For the new vice mayor, Rodriguez, the first regular session of the 20th City Council held Monday described her as something historic and remarkable.

Rodriguez even said the said inaugural session was one for the books, as she depicts that it does not occur very often during similar regular sessions at the city council.

“We restored the democratic method of legislation by hearing all sides, something that was non-existent in the previous council,” said Rodriguez in her welcome speech.

“True to my commitment to making institutional reforms,” said Rodriguez.

She said they have opened the floor for intellectual debates thereby ensuring that the proposed ordinances are crafted judiciously.

We restore the democratic method of legislation by hearing all sides ― something non-existent in the previous council as members of the minority were not given equal opportunity to speak.

However, Rodriguez said the minority before was not given even a single committee to spearhead.

“Not anymore now as we set the bar higher,” said Rodriguez.

She said under her watch as the presiding officer, the 20th City Council will be discursive, inclusive, and participative.

City Council secretary Arturo de San Miguel said the said approved resolutions were all from the majority bloc's version Appendix “A” pages 1-18 and Appendix “B” pages 19- 41.

San Miguel also confirmed the deleted paragraph from the draft version of the minority, specifically paragraph “e,” one of the powers and functions of the presiding officer.

He said the deleted section is read as “confer with the secretary of the SP from time to time as to what matters to be included in the agenda.”

Councilor Edgar Cabanlas was the one who filed the said proposed resolution Appendix “A” pages 1-18 from the majority while Abbu filed Appendix “A-1” from the minority bloc.

Minority bloc

In the minority version of the proposed Internal Rules of Procedure [IRP], Elected minority floor leader Councilor James Judith said they introduced an amendment to Sec.5, Rule 3 on the powers and duties of the Presiding Officer which was cited by San Miguel (Appendix A-1) of the agenda.

"We simply made a few changes in the House Rules of the 19th City Council which the majority crafted and approved. However, what confuses us is why they deleted this specific provision as one of the powers of the Presiding Officer," Judith said.

He said that it no longer appeared in the version (Appendix A) of the proposed House Rules of the majority.

According to the majority, they deleted this specific provision as they did not see how this will affect the power of the Presiding Officer considering that this is actually inherent or part of her power anyway.

However, Judith countered that since the majority made the enumeration as to the powers of the Presiding Officer, they might as well indicate all of her powers based on the doctrine “what is not enumerated is excluded” and that “what is enumerated means it is thus included.”

“In law, you have to be very clear (with) your language so as to leave no room for doubt or misinterpretation,” Judith added.

“So, sa ako lang, mura mag gi tuyo,” said Councilor Joey Abbu adding “that's why we are revealing to the majority bloc that they shouldn't have deprived the minority bloc of representation in the committees.”

Abbu said the appearing city council minority bloc will not be obstructive.

He said they just wanted to be an active minority that would raise issues and observations based on the point of view of constitutionality.

Abbu said they were a minority but a minority contributing to better laws instead.

“Sa 19th City Council Internal Rules of Procedure, naa man gud ang provision nga ang minority bloc naay representation sa tanan committees,” said Abbu.

He said that while today, the version of the 20th City Council Internal Rules, the minority no longer has representation in the committees because they have been deleted.

“It is only an opinion," Abbu on his reply to Nacaya on the DILG's legal viewpoint in the holding of standing committees by the Ex Officios' members.

"It can be persuasive or can be a guiding course of action that can be done but it does not necessarily binding,” according to Abbu.

Abbu said the strength and effectiveness of the minority bloc are measured not just by numbers but also by the seriousness of its members in visualizing constructively.

“We will continue to be the responsible opposition in the Council,” said Abbu, adding that part of the responsibility of the minority also extends outside not only as political opposition but to communicate and engage with the general population.

Meanwhile, Majority Floor Leader Ian Mark Nacaya said he would lead the formation of a majority bloc in the 16-member City Council to help pursue the legislative agenda of new Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy.

Nacaya even denied having the intention to deprive and remove important power from the presiding officer.

“Nope, for the longest time, it has been the role of the committee on laws and rules to calendar the agenda of the city council, not the vice mayor’s,” said Nacaya.

What they are trying to propose is for the Vice Mayor to prepare the agenda, said Nacaya adding that’s a barangay council concept.

“We are at Sangguniang with a strong tradition and history of doing business properly for the good of the service,” he said.

He also explained that there’s no redundancy in the 2019 house rules.

“No more, no less,” said Nacaya.

By tradition, Nacaya said they are in the working majority and will decide and elect the standing committees' chairmanship in the next regular session.