Brgy chief objects to having ABC meeting inside VM Young's office

CEBU, Philippines - Tinago Barangay Captain Domingo Lopez appealed to his fellow board members in the Association of Barangay Councils not to get involved in politics.

Lopez was questioning yesterday why the regular board meeting of ABC was held in Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young’s office.

“I couldn’t help but ask if this is another form of politicking,” Lopez said.

Lopez said he tried to ask the staff of ABC President Michael Ralota why the meeting must be held in the vice mayor’s office when they have their own ABC office at the South Road Properties.

Lopez said the staff replied to him saying that they chose the vice mayor’s office because snacks will be provided so they do not have to buy it for themselves.

Lopez was apparently not convinced of the reason so he consulted the mayor about the appropriateness of conducting meetings in the vice mayor’s office knowing that there exists a political rift between the mayor and most of the members of the city council.

Mayor Michael Rama however refused to dip his fingers into the matter.

Lopez and Rama are cousins. Lopez said that ABC is supposed to be apolitical because it is the nature of the organization.

He also criticized Ralota for inviting officials during the ABC general assemblies where these officials are allegedly taking the opportunity to throw criticisms at each other.

“Aren’t we supposed to remind them that the ABC assembly should not be a venue for their exchange of blows? But whenever I raise this concern to my fellow captains, they only tell me that officials are entitled to say what they want,” Lopez said in Cebuano.

Young denied that he invited the ABC board of trustees to hold meetings in his office but he said all who request to use his conference room are accommodated.

He said he is not even aware that the ABC held their regular meeting in his office yesterday because the requests are usually handled by his secretary.

Young belied Lopez’s claim that allowing the captains to use his office for their meetings is for their political gains. — (FREEMAN)