Case vs. 7 Ginatilan councilors dropped

The Committee on Laws of the Provincial Board dismissed the complaint filed by Ginatilan Vice Mayor Clarito Dinglasa against seven town councilors for misconduct and abuse of authority when they reconvened last May 9 an already adjourned session.

According to the committee report released by its chairman, provincial board member Antonio Almirante, Ginatilan town councilors Karyn James Duterte, Jose Ramon Gornez, Liza Chow, Ma. Rizza Barriga, John Momo, Aurora Caballeda and Byrne Tolabing did not commit any misconduct or abuse of authority when they reconvened the special session last May 9.

The committee, through the Internal Rules of Procedure of Ginatilan, resolved that the session was not adjourned as alleged by Dinglasa.

Dinglasa, who presided the special session which was intended for the approval of the town's annual budget, made a clarificatory message that the 2005 Annual Budget was not yet ready pending a report of the committee on budget and appropriations.

After which Dinglasa accordingly adjourned the session, invoking an assumed motion.

The SB members left the hall but resumed shortly without the presiding officer and two SB members.

However, according to Almirante's committee, it is very clear in the town's internal rules and procedures that sessions of the Sanggunian shall not be suspended or adjourned except by the discretion of the Sanggunian itself.