Brgy captain to defy SK head's suspension

CEBU, Philippines - While the 60-day suspension order on the four Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons in Cebu City will take effect tomorrow for their failure to attend monthly sessions of the federation, Capitol Site Barangay Captain Manuel Guanzon will challenge the notice of suspension that was served against SK chairman Jason Turno Jr.

 “I will not honor it and I will not impose the suspension order served by the SK Federation,” Guanzon told The FREEMAN.

 “Which will prevail? The constitution and by-laws of the federation or the Local Government Code, which only requires barangay officials to attend two consecutive sessions in one-month,” Guanzon said, adding that the barangay is mulling to file abuse of authority against the entire officers of the SK federation.

 The notice of suspension for Mary Jane Chua of Barangay Labangon, Orlane Quijada of Barangay Punta Princesa, Gracielle Therese Araw-araw of Barangay Poblacion Pardo and Turno Jr. were separately served last Friday after Interior and Local Government City Director Patricio Gabuya noted the suspension order issued by SKF president and ex-officio City Councilor John Philip Po.

 “You are hereby notified that in view of your consecutive absences during monthly sessions of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation without written justifiable or reasonable cause, the federation has voted, after investigation, to serve you a disciplinary suspension for 60 days,” the order read.

 The suspension will take effect on September 24 until November 22 without pay for two months by the SK Federation for violating provisions of the constitution and by-laws of the federation.

For their part, Labangon barangay captain Vic Buendia and Punta Princesa barangay captain Jose Navarro said they will respect the decision of the federation, saying that their SK chairpersons have not done anything good.

 Speaking in behalf of his SK chairman, Guanzon, who is also the vice president of the Association of Barangay Councils, will questioned the legality of the suspension order saying that his SK chairman has been attending barangay council sessions and has been doing his responsibilities and duties as chairman of the youth in his barangay.

 Guanzon said the federation officers have personal motives in suspending Turno because he did not allow his SK chairman to attend activities of the federation especially outside Cebu City. He added that even the ABC does not suspend barangay captains who are not attending their regular assembly and who did not pay their annual dues.

 Ariel Araw-araw, the father of Gracielle Therese, said that they are still studying the option of filing a motion for reconsideration. Ariel said his daughter has been conducting a series of activities in their barangay even without press release or pictures to support their claim. “If they like to check, they can check it here in our barangay,” he said.

 In a separate interview with The FREEMAN, Po said the federation is only exercising its right to maintain the existing rules and regulations set forth by its members.

 “This suspension is to ensure that they understand the seriousness of this situation and the need to correct their behavior,” Po said.

 The four SK chairpersons sent their letters of explanation but the federation’s local executive committee found their excuses “unreasonable and invalid.”

 Article 15 Section 6 of the 2001 SK Constitution and By-laws provides that unauthorized absence for two consecutive, regular or special, meetings in the case of the Pambansang Pederasyon, or three consecutive, regular or special, meetings in the case of the Local Federation and the SK or five unauthorized absences in a year is ground for disciplinary actions.

 Upon effectivity of the suspension order, the first SK councilor of the concerned barangays will assume as the SK Chairperson and will be entitled to all the benefits of a SK chairman.

 Po warned the four erring SK chairman and even the rest of his colleagues that if their unjustifiable absence continues, they may be slapped with further disciplinary action, including dismissal if warranted. — /JPM (FREEMAN)