THE camp of Vice-Governor Dionisio Victor Balite demolished then Vice-Gov. Rene Relampagos’s grip of committees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol for quite awhile.
This came after San Isidro councilor Gloria Gementiza, president of Philippine Councilors League Bohol chapter and now ex-officio member, moved the SP committee overhaul during the session (August 2, 2022) of last week. After her election, Gementiza assumed office and replaced then PCL president Loay councilor Jescelo Adiong.
The said session was practically in chaos as the parliamentary rules appeared to be not followed.
When Gementiza moved for the overhaul of the committee composition and seconded, BM Dr. Elpidio Bonita, who is closely allied with then Relampagos and Gov. Art Yap, interposed his objection.
This prompted the presiding officer Balite to call for the “division of the house” or come to a voting to favor or not on Gementiza’s motion to revamp the committees.
But some two or three motions from BM Aldner Damalerio and BM Atty. Benjie Arcamo, both allied with Relampagos, surfaced and the presiding officer accommodated them. The scenario or “order of business” was muddled without first resolving the main motion earlier raised, which is the voting to resolve the objection motion.
Aldner cited the SP’s internal rules of procedures that was in question as it was passed by way of a Resolution during Relampagos’s dispensation. He said that no SP member could be chairman in more than three committees.
BM Atty. Tomas Abapo, Jr. was about to argue on Damalerio’s cited provision of their rules of procedures but did not. Earlier, Abapo stressed that a mere Resolution cannot tinker an Ordinance of the internal rules of procedures, but only an Ordinance can.After several recess was declared by Balite and huddles with opposing parties (BMS) followed, the now minority of the SP yielded without a fight in voting, Abapo said.
Minority of the SP now composed of six (6) — Arcamo, Damalerio, BMs Mimi Boniel, Bonita, Atan Binlod and Sangguniang Kabataan president Victor Bolos.
The magnificent seven (7) — Abapo, Gementiza, BMs, Atty. Jamie Villamor, Greg Jala, Lucille Lagunay, Liga nga mga Barangay president Dr. Romulo Cepedoza and Tita Baja, the new majority leader — now becomes SP’s majority.
The news committee chairmanship and membership is shown here below:
