SP faction asks Erap to suspend Aquino

A special session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan attended by six members allied with Governor Hector S. Sanchez has passed a resolution requesting Malacanang to suspend Vice Gov. Alfred M. Aquino for grave abuse of authority.

Resolution No. 2000-141 recommends to President Joseph E. Estrada the immediate imposition of a 90-day preventive suspension on the vice governor on the basis of a verified complaint accusing Aquino of grave abuse of authority.

The complaint alleged that Aquino willfully violated Sec. 63 of the Local Government Code of 1991 on preventive suspension by giving credence to a questionable and illegal resolution of the Liga ng mga Barangay Board suspending Provincial Federation President and SP ex-officio member Magin P. Isuela of Caramoran.

The complaint also stated that the vice governor "exhibited his contempt and disregard of lawful authority by not allowing duly-elected Sangguniang Kabataan provincial federation president Remelito Cabrera to sit in the provincial board, thereby defying a court order."

It added that Aquino "continuously obstructs the implementation

The complaint likewise accuses Aquino of being "too subservient to the whims and caprices of Cong. Leandro B. Verceles, Jr. to the point of kowtowing to obstructionist policies of the congressman.

It said the vice governor had been "using (a) government vehicle for family use and for his personal caprices to the detriment of the delivery of basic services" and that the vice governor's inability to muster a quorum for countless times in the provincial board have disrupted and stymied provincial government programs and projects.

The resolution has as proponents reinstated Liga ng mga Barangay federation president Magin P. Isuela and SKPF president Remelito Cabrera, who has also filed criminal contempt raps against the vice governor and eight others for ignoring a court order allowing him to sit at the provincial board. The measure was approved on the same day by Governor Hector S. Sanchez.

Held the other Tuesday (Nov. 23), the session was temporarily presided over by PBM Edwin T. Tanael and also counted as present PBMs Rafael C. Zuniega, Edgar T. Tapel, Fredeswindo T. Gianan, Jr., Isuela and Cabrera.

Isuela attended his first session in three months following the expiration of the 90-day preventive suspension imposed on him by the Municipal Liga of Caramoran in relation to a case filed against him as barangay captain for alleged illegal use of the Liga vehicle.

The vice governor, PBMs Catalino Gabao, Jr., Lilia Evangelista, and Evelyn Gutierrez were in Manila to attend the convention of the Provincial Board Members Association of the Philippines (PBMAP). PBM Carlos Aguilar was in town after deciding not to board the ferry boat but indicated he would not attend the session while PBM Rosie Olarte reportedly left the SP premises in a hurry after seeing the presence of the other PBMs identified with the governor.

Vice Gov. Aquino and the rest of the board allied with Rep. Leandro B. Verceles, Jr. are expected to take issue with the Nov. 23 resolution on whether there was a quorum.

Internal rules of the board as well as the Local Government Code mandates that a majority of members, including ex-officio PBMs, shall constitute a quorum. However, in the computation of the required quorum, excluded from the actual membership are the regular presiding officer or a member who is on official leave of absence.