Stupidity normal at consejo de halo

Stupidity, especially the intentional one, is normal at the legislature of Iloilo City which qualifies it to be called consejo de halo, apologies to monitor lizards. 

"Halo" in both kinaray-a and hiligaynon, is an endangered and protected species.

The halo at the consejo de Iloilo are not endangered - the species and the crass ignorance it sponsors multiplies by the hour within the legislative chamber and beyond. 

Acts which were detestable in yonder years have become legal nowadays if we looked at the normalization of banditry on sidewalk vendors or bolanteros -- their goods, wares, proceeds and vehicles seized wholesale and punches delivered to boot by the tulisanes disguised in city hall uniforms with nary a member from the consejo de halo raising a furor at the brazen injustice.

During the era of SPs Inday Pearl (Perla Zulueta), Rita Bascos (+ RTC judge), Dr. Guiling De la Llana (+), etc. the city legislature lived up to that term "august body" which referred to "respected, dignified, and important group of people or an official institution". The past tense "referred to" is used here for an obvious reason that the present cannot apply to the current occupants of the consejo.

The consejo de halo de la ciuded de Yrong-Yrong, now holds the records as the only one in the Philippines, and perhaps, the whole world, which passed a resolution barring Vice Mayor Love Baronda from delivering privilege speeches and sponsoring ordinances. The same measure mechanically restricts her to her chair as presiding officer, prohibited from taking sides and required to exercise the cold neutrality of an impartial judge.

Let's walk through local history, at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol where the vice governor presides, delivers privileged speeches, participates in debates and sponsors ordinances and resolutions. 

The vice governor does not only preside: he/she is, above all, is a co-legislator empowered to debate on the floor and sponsor ordinances and resolutions. All it takes is for him/her to move to relinquish the chair and join the floor which the members grant as matter of courtesy.

Let's walk through Iloilo Province further: 

September of every year is celebrated "Fiesta sg Kakahuyan". The activity sprang from Provincial Ordinance No. 2000-04, marking the month September with series of tree growing activities in the province involving thousands of indigenous tree saplings and bamboos for planting by provincial employees and volunteers from private and public offices.

Vice Gov. Demy Sonza was passionate on his privilege speech hailing the role of trees; he introduced an ordinance to that effect. Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. signed it after its passage. 

July 2001, Defensor moved up to the Lower House of Congress. Sonza rejoined the academe after a failed bid to the governorship. He passed away during the Covid 19 lockdown (?). Bless his soul.

Succeeding administrations: Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr. (2001-2010). Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. (2010-2019), Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr. (2019 -  ) pushed through the Fiesta sg Kakahuyan every September. Each  invested on nurseries and established new ones and hopped to more towns hosting tree growing activiteies. Previously, there were only two nurseries - at Brgy. Daja, Maasin and La Granja, La Paz, Iloilo City.

Maasin Watershed used to be the center of activity; regreening now is simultaneously done in multiple towns.

Let's walk through for another reason to celebrate the Fiesta sa Kakahuyan: a certain Rommel Duron of the consejo de halo was not around when Vice Governor Demy Sonza stood up at the privileged hour and introduced the proposed Fiesta sa Kakahuyan Ordinance.

SP Rommel Duron of the consejo de halo aptly fits into the role of a false prophet leading his flock astray when he preached ex-cathedra that the vice-mayor is forbidden by law to deliver privileged speeches and sponsor ordinances and resolutions. Misleading his constituents appears to be his normal duty -- he just condemned VM Baronda to the strictures of both presiding officer and judge who must practice fairness and cold neutrality of an impartial judge. 

Duron is a lawyer but the businessman in him has tied him up with his daily routine counting his windfall from his Grab Taxi commitments that has made him forget his duty as local legislator.

Let's review the bible of local autonomy, Republic at 7160:

    SECTION. 456. Powers, Duties and Compensation. - (a) The city vice-mayor shall: 

    (1) Be the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and sign all warrants drawn on the city treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the Sangguniang Panlungsod; 

    (2) Subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, appoint all officials and employees of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, except those whose manner of appointment is specifically provided in this Code; 

    (3) Assume the office of the city mayor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy as provided for in Section 44, Book I of this Code; 

    (4) Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the city mayor in cases of temporary vacancy as provided for in Section 46, Book I of this Code; and 

    (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. XXX

    Is there an item barring Vice Mayor Baronda from exercising her full powers as member of the local legislative body like delivering privilege speeches and sponsoring legislative measures?

    Nein. Nyet. 

    Quod non prohibetur, licet. What the law does not prohibit, it allows. Actions not expressly or impliedly forbidden by law are allowed, provided they do not violate public morals, customs, or public order. (In the Matter of the Adoption of Stephanie Nathy Astorga Garcia).