Council says Day-as SK head was only absent for 2 months

The city council committee on public accountability and good government corrected the Day-as barangay Resolution No. 024 calling for the immediate replacement of Sangguniang Kabataan chairwoman Rafonzel Quijano for allegedly incurring a total of three months consecutive unauthorized absences from the barangay sessions.

In a committee report rendered by the chairman of the committee, Edgardo Labella, the councilor cited the period from September 21 to November 23 constituted only two months.

Quijano, according to the records submitted by the barangay council to the city council, incurred absences on September 21, October 5, October 7, October 21, November 9 and 23, all in 2006.

The barangay council wants to declare vacant the position of Quijano as they cited Section 435 of the Local Government Code that the office will be considered vacant after an SK chairperson has incurred more than three or four consecutive unauthorized absences without leave from the barangay council.

Except for her own mother, Suzette Quijano, the barangay council has signed and approved the resolution for the removal of Rafonzel from office and her replacement by first SK councilor, Jhuniel Formentera.

But Labella said "the period from September 21, 2006 to November 23, 2006 does not constitute three months as required by law, but only two months."

The report of Labella was supported by the members of the committee, vice chairman Jose Daluz and members Procopio Fernandez, Jocelyn Pesquera and Hilario Davide III, all of whom are lawyers.

Last 2004, Quijano, who is also the vice president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, was meted a month's suspension by the federation also for incurred absences without official leave.

That year in November, Quijano left for the US after her band Catharsis was hired as the in-house band of a bar in Florida.

Right now, Quijano is in Manila promoting her singing career.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Quijano claimed despite her hectic schedule she was able to attend to the needs of her constituents, she plans to finish her term that ends this year. - Garry B. Lao/BRP