Ouster move vs. city ABC head looms

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — A move of majority members of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) to oust its president Faro Cabalit of barangay Taloto in this city is fast shaping up following the approval of a resolution declaring all positions vacant during a special session of the league.

Cabalit, in an interview, confirmed this to The FREEMAN even as he raised doubts on the validity of the resolution. He said he was unfazed of the move, which he considered "illegal."

The approval of the resolution was inappropriate because it did not conform with the league's constitution and by-laws and it did not pass through the correct procedure of removing Liga officials.

According to a source privy to LnB, the resolution was a clear manifestation that the body has lost confidence to its head.

Asked if there were other concerns that prompted the move, the source said there were but he did not elaborate, although he said that it was the first step for the filing of a formal petition with the national league to remove Cabalit from his post.

The source said Cabalit had severed ties with his patron, City Mayor Dan Neri-Lim after some misunderstanding over some "internal agreements." He however did not elaborate what those disagreements were.

Aside from Cabalit, three other barangay captains-Fredison Ingles of Dampas; Bangalao of Tiptip; and Odie Glovasa of Poblacion III-did not vote for the resolution contending that they wanted to get the right answers on the right procedure to remove Liga officials.

Cabalit argued that the approval of the resolution was irregular since the session that approved it was not sanctioned by him but the majority convened it anyway.

He said that an earlier session he presided was adjourned by him since it was not during that session to deliberate on the controversial resolution.

The majority (11 of 15 members) however went on to convene another session after Cabalit adjourned the earlier session earlier.

This time, barangay chairman Manolo Blanco of Mansasa presided over since the vice-president, Philip Besas of Cogon declined because he was the one who sponsored and pushed for the measure.

Cabalit said that he will consult with his lawyer to plan his action to counter the move for his ouster. - THE FREEMAN