BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) will amend its Internal Rules, particularly provisions that concern peace and order.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said this measure stemmed from last week’s “boxing” incident involving councilors Jesus Claudio Puentevella and Dindo Ramos.
Puentevella punched Ramos on the face while the SP was on recess inside the session hall.
The councilors engaged in a heated debate prior to this. The debate was about an urgent matter the SP has to act on in relation to the city government’s sanitary service contract with the IPM Construction and Development Corp.
The matter was settled as the SP authorized Mayor Evelio Leonardia to sign the contract for the construction of Cell No. 2 at the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.
The SP did this while Puentevella was excluded from session.
Familiaran said Councilor Caesar Distrito – chairman of the SP committee on laws, ordinances and good government – will draft a proposal for the SP Internal Rules amendment.
The vice mayor said the proposal will include the “dos and don’ts” at session hall.
These amended rules will cover all session attendees, including those standing in the gallery area, added Familiaran.
The number of session attendees will be limited and wearing shorts and slippers at session hall will not be allowed, he also said.
The SP will act on the proposal in its next regular session.
During SP’s regular session on Monday, two policemen and six Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) personnel were deployed to the session hall, as requested by Familiaran.
The cops and the POSO personnel will be present in the succeeding SP sessions to maintain peace and order, said the vice mayor./PN
