Seven councilors outvoted by six in move to suspend barrio official

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) -Strange as it may seem, majority was not the rule when the councilors voted on a proposed resolution to impose a preventive suspension order on a barangay official of Talon Talon whose case was brought to the City Council Committee on Good Government.

 “I am mandated to perform  my job’” Councilor  Melchor “Mel” Saddain said.

Saddain  who chairs  the Committee on Good Government  together with four (4)  other members  said that , they failed to get the majority of vote of eight  (8) .

How did this happened and where did the “majority rule” characteristics of democratic institution came into play in the case?

The councilors who voted in favor  for a “preventive suspension “  were  Councilors  Rommel, Agan, Myra Paz Abubbakar ,  Juan Kim Elago,  Jawo Jimenez,  Ismael Musa, Percival Ramos  and   Mel Saddain.

They made up a total of seven votes.

Those who voted against the “preventive suspension” were Councilors  Vincent Paul Elago , Charlie Mariano , Roel Natividad, Jerry Perez, Eddie Saavedra  and Rudy Bayot .

They made up a total of six votes.

It appeared that under the city council rule for a majority of the 16 member city council, the votes should have at least reached  8 votes as a majority to carry a resolution or a decision.

Councilor Noning Biel  abstained  while three (3) others,  Councilors  Gerky Valesco, VG Guingona and Mike Alavar were absent on official travel.

Sadain said that  it his job though it is  hard and or difficult  but it is  part of the procedural process  based on documentary  evidence  and witnesses resistance .

“Duele man , trabaho lang, “ Sadain said .

As this developed, Sadain said he will still respect the decision  of the members of the City Council .

The committee  on Good Government chairs by Saddain included  Co-Chairman Charlie Mariano with members , Councilor Myra Paz Abubakar , Councilor Percival Ramos and Councilor VG Guingona  whom  only three signed for the recommendation.

Only three councilors signed the recommendation, namely Ramos,  , Guingona  and Sadain and who opted to  present the preventive suspension resolution  so as not to influence   the testimonies of the witnesses  and for the committee to  be able to get hold  of the original documents  in the course of their  investigation .

Councilor Charlie  Mariano and  Myra Paz Abubakar were out  for travel at the time  to sign the recommendation for a  preventive suspension .

Saddain added that the committee is saddled with two complaitns.

The first case has 17 complainants wjhile the second case has only three complainants.

Saddain said that  actually  the committee already received the referral coming from  the Ombudsman  which then  has referred to the councilor  committee .

“We are  just waiting  the answers from the respondents.  “Sadain  said .

The time frame for the respondents to answer  summon  on  the case filed against them is good for fifteen days upon received thereof. (Letty M. Militante) (112814)