Lina hits Tarlac board in row over PCL head

TARLAC CITY – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina has censured this province’s vice governor and the provincial board with regards to a plot to unseat the Tarlac chair of the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL).

In a two-page letter addressed to Vice Gov. Marcelino Aganon Jr., Lina warned that the provincial board "has no such discretion whether or not to recognize an ex-officio member, since it is the law that vests unto such public official the right to sit (in the board)."

Aganon’s office has entertained a supposed "manifesto-resolution" demanding the recall of San Clemente municipal councilor and ex-officio board member, Dr. Isaias Apostol, as president of the PCL-Tarlac chapter.

The manifesto is signed by 116 of the 182 city and municipal councilors of the province, making it short of five signatures to comply with the mandated two-thirds vote to take effect. It was, therefore, junked by Lina’s office and that of the PCL’s national executive board.

Nonetheless, Aganon included the manifesto in the board’s agenda and referred it to the provincial legal office that is under the jurisdiction of Gov. Jose Yap Sr.

Lina cautioned Aganon from not recognizing Apostol as an ex-officio board member representing the PCL-Tarlac.

"The law that vests unto the PCL president the right to sit (in the provincial board)" can never be bargained away by the mere expedience of non-recognition by the (majority of the board) members," he said. – Benjie Villa