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ANGELES CITY -- Members of this
city's Liga ng mga Barangay (LB) have declared Vice Mayor
Vicky Vega-Cabigting as "persona non-grata".
In Resolution no. 5, series 2008, which was signed by 17
village chiefs here, they stated that the declaration of the
vice mayor as an undesirable person was made for
"dishonoring the majority of the LB members in Angeles City
and intervening in their affairs."
The resolution cited the case of Barangay Cutcut chairman
Robin Nepomuceno whom the league maintains is the "true
elected LB president in Angeles City." It also accused
Cabigting of allegedly insulting and intervening in the
decisions of the Liga members through series of
pronouncements in the media.
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The 17 barangay leaders also accused Cabigting of
disregarding the true decision of the majority of the
members of the league.
Earlier, Barangay Pandan chairmen Jerry Alejandrino and
Nepomuceno both claimed the ex-officio City Council seat
allotted for the LB president. Their respective supporters
elected them as LB president on separate occasions.
Nepomuceno's camp argued that the election held on December
29 was the "official election" and was observed by both
representatives from the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Alejandrino, on the other hand, who was elected by lesser
number of his supporters last December 18, claimed the post
on the basis of following "rule of law." He said he was
recognized as the LB president by the LB national office.
Cabigting, as the Angeles City Council presiding officer,
recognized Alejandrino as the LB president and as the
ex-officio councilor. Her move was strongly opposed by most
members of the council and majority of the village chiefs.
The barangay leaders maintain that as duly elected
officials, they should be provided with utmost respect and
courtesy by any individual.
In an interview with Barangay Balibago chairman Rodelio
Mamac, he said the declaration was in response to
Cabigting's "abuse of her power and discretion".
"It does not mean that if we declare her (Cabigting) a
persona non grata we lose respect for her, we still respect
her as a person. The declaration was in response to her
conduct in the City Council," Mamac said.
Nepomuceno, who also signed the resolution, said he still
maintains his "cordial relationship" with the vice mayor.
"The resolution was for the way that he treated the barangay
leader," he added.
For her part, Cabigting said she was just following what is
right in accordance with the rule of law. "They can always
freely express themselves. If they declare me as persona non
grata after following the rule of law and what is right for
me as a presiding officer to do, then I'll accept that. But
as far as I know, I have been doing my job in accordance
with the council rules and the law," she said.
The vice mayor said she has yet to receive a copy of the
resolution signed by the members of the league. |
