JVR veto prevails

CEBU, Philippines - The Alayon party dominated Sangguniang Panlungsod in Talisay City yesterday failed to garner enough support to override Mayor Johnny De los Reyes’ veto on the provision of the second sentence in Sec. 5 of the appropriation ordinance in the disputed P629 million annual budget for this year.

But Alayon City Councilor Socrates Fernandez, in a privilege speech told the members of the council that it is not the end but the beginning.

Fernandez even accused the mayor of not making true to his promise to the people of Talisay.

“We did not ask for it. He promised to give 50, later he promised 45, 30, and now 20,” Fernandez said.

The mayor vetoed the second sentence in Sec. 5 of the appropriation ordinance.

The provision, which the Sanggunian approved, allocates 50 job order employees to each councilor and the 22 barangay captains three each.

The number of votes needed by the council to override De los Reyes’ veto is eight as there are 11 members in the council.

But only seven voted to override the mayor’s veto while three votes favoreed the mayor’s veto, while one vote to abstain the veto.

Voting to override the veto were Councilors Richard Francis Aznar, Socrates Fernandez, Edward Alesna, Doroteo Emit, Anotnio Bacaltos, Raul Bacaltos, and Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III.

Voting against the override were Danilo Caballero, Valeriano Ylanan, and Dennis Basillote. The three are allied with De los Reyes.

However, Councilor Aldrin Diaz voted to abstain.

“The outcome of the veto is not the end of the story of our service to the people of Talisay,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez, the former mayor, accused the mayor of keeping changing his mind over the job order quota.

“He must not change his mind but die for the truth. It was from his mouth and I feel sorry that his promise was broken,” Fernandez said.

Villarante said Alayon had not enough votes to prevail over the mayor’s veto.

The mayor’s veto power is provided for in the Local Government Code, but the council can override a veto as long as two-thirds of its members are in agreement.

But in the case of the city council, Villarante said that the council having 11 members should have mustered eight votes in order to override the mayor’s veto, which the council needs the 2/3 votes of its total members. (FREEMAN)