Town mayor defends speedy budget okay

The municipal mayor of Ginatilan found no irregularity in the performance of duty of seven town councilors on the approval of the 2005 Annual Budget last May 9, contrary to the allegations of the vice mayor that the seven had signed the annual budget prematurely.

Ginatilan Mayor Dean Michael Singco defended the move of town councilors Karyn James Duterte, Jose Ramon Gornez, Liza Chow, Ma. Rizza Barriga, John Momo, Aurora Caballeda and Byrne Raynan Tolabing in yesterday's meeting of provincial leaders at the Capitol.

Vice Mayor Clarito Dinglasa alleged that the seven councilors reconvened the already adjourned special session last May 9 to purposely approve on a premature stage the annual budget.

Dinglasa, who was presiding officer of the special session held earlier, reasoned out that the annual budget does not have the required committee report yet from the Committee on Appropriations of which he is chairman.

Aside from that, the result of the Municipal Development Council meeting, that allegedly didn't achieve a quorum, became the basis of the annual budget, he said.

Singco said it is not true that the special session was already adjourned as there was no motion for adjournment, and that there was no motion to second the earlier motion, as required.

The seven councilors were reportedly caught by surprise when Dinglasa and two other councilors suddenly walked out from the said session.

Considering that the annual budget was long overdue, the seven councilors decided to continue with the deliberation and eventually approved it.

Singco said he is waiting for a copy of a letter complaint from Dinglasa and is looking forward to any inquiry that would be made by the provincial board.

Dinglasa's letter complaint will be dealt with in this Monday's regular session of the provincial board.