Solon vacates city hall office

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice vacated his district office at the Caloocan City Hall yesterday as an offshoot of last week’s city council resolution that declared the solon "persona-non grata" for saying the city government was in the brink of bankruptcy.

"Definitely, it was because of the resolution by the city council," Ronald Zamora, a staffer at Erice’s office, said.

Erice is one of a few congressman who holds office regularly at city hall to meet with his constituents. He received a notice from the General Services Office (GSO) at 10 a.m. yesterday, advising him to vacate his office.

"Even without the notice, Congressman Erice would have voluntarily given up the office," Zamora said.

In a single-page memorandum, GSO advised Erice "to surrender all city properties issued to you and vacate the soonest possible time," saying the office will be utilized by the city treasurer."

The GSO said the order has nothing to do with the ongoing personal squabble between the solon and Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo, but was pursuant to the city council’s resolution declaring Erice as city undesirable.

"I would like to clarify that my action has nothing to do with politics. My concerns are the equipment provided to his office by the city government," GSO head Brigida Noche said.

Voting seven-two, with five abstained, Erice was declared "city undesirable" last Thursday by the city council for his alleged "preposterous and irresponsible assertions, publicly made through print and broadcast media, inimical not only to the best interest of the city…but also threatening its economic and political stability."

In a privilege speech at the House of Representatives yesterday, Erice lashed back at Malonzo and his allies in the council, daring them "to prove me wrong in the bankruptcy issue."

"The mayor has not rebuffed my statements. Instead of addressing the issue and disproving my claims, he has attacked my reputation.

Believe me, I would love to be proven wrong. I challenge local leaders in Caloocan to do just that," Erice said. – Pete Laude, Jerry Botial