After the regular session is adjourned Tuesday, Nov. 29 due to lack of quorum, City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus says most of the councilors were on official business trips. (Robby Joy Salveron/davaotoday.com)
By Robby Joy Salveron and Maricar Emata, Interns
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The City Council’s regular session was adjourned Tuesday morning after it failed to reach a quorum.
Majority Floor Leader and City Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Sr. moved the motion to adjourn the meeting 35 minutes after it started since only 14 out of 27 members of the City Council were present.
There should be 15 members present for the session to proceed.
In an interview, Mahipus said that Councilor Bernard Al-ag told him that he received messages from most of the councilors informing him that they will be absent as most of them were requested to attend some local and national events.
Mahipus said he was told that said most of the city councilors were on official business. He said the adjournment of today’s session is valid and reasonable.
“We cannot deprive the guests the presence of a representative from the city government to speak and welcome them during these national conventions,” Mahipus said.
Record shows that six of the councilors were on official business namely, Al Ryan Alejandre, Dante Apostol Sr., Danilo Dayanghirang, Jimmy Dureza, Avegayle Ortiz and Halila Y. Sudagar while Joanne Bonguyan-Quilos is on maternity leave and January Duterte and Marissa Salvador-Abella were on sick leave. Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was also absent.
Mahipus proposed for the council to have a special session on Friday, Dec.2 but he said the special session is more feasible on Dec. 9.
However, the councilors still need to determine if the number of councilors attending could reach quorum since majority are invited to mandatory continuing legal education and other upcoming conventions such as Philippine Councillors’ League (PCL) where Councilor Danny Dayanghirang is a candidate to be National Chairperson. (davaotoday.com)
