BACOLOD City – Councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan called Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia “irresponsible.”
Tan said this on Thursday after Leonardia called him out for “poorly” leading the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
The SP has failed to transact business for two consecutive weeks due to lack of quorum while Tan was acting vice mayor.
Tan blamed seven SP members who flew abroad in July for an official 16-day trip for what he called was a “black eye to the good name” of the city council.
These SP members – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and councilors Em Ang, Caesar Distrito, Bartolome Orola, Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, and Dindo Ramos – went to Long Beach City, California to attend the city’s version of the MassKara Festival.
They were all allied with Grupo Progreso, a local political group that Leonardia leads.
“Si Mayor Bing ang basulon sini sang no-quorum [scenario] kay may control sia,” stressed Tan.
He added that Leonardia has the “power to stop” the SP members from leaving Bacolod.
Leonardia earlier said the SP can still transact business with eight out of its 15 members left.
“Indi sia kahambal nga ang rason Grupo Progreso. It is because of poor leadership,” said the mayor, adding that Tan should have ensured the attendance of the eight remaining SP members./PN
