Ginatilan VM accuses 7 councilors of misconduct

The vice mayor of Ginatilan has accused seven councilors of abusing their authority in the passage of the town's budget for 2005.

In a letter to the Provincial Board, Vice Mayor Clarito Dinglasa said that Councilors Karyn James Duterte, Jose Ramon Gornez, Liza A. Chow, Ma. Rizza Barriga, John Momo, Aurora Caballeda, and Byrne Raynan A. Tolabing committed misconduct for approving the annual budget during a May 9 special session that was already adjourned.

Dinglasa said that as the presiding officer and head of the committee of appropriations, he announced during the session that approving the annual budget was premature because the committee report on the budget was not yet acted upon.

But Dinglasa claimed that without his knowledge, the seven councilors reconvened and proceeded to approve the 2005 Annual Budget.

He claimed that for holding another session, which was presided by Duterte, the seven councilors were guilty of usurpation of authority.

The holding of two sessions in one day is not allowed under the Local Government Code.