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| When the majority becomes the minority
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Even neophytes in parliamentary procedures know the majority rules when it comes to deciding a motion duly seconded.
But in the case of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of San Jose City, it is not always the case. When somebody makes a motion, seconded by another, the Presiding Officer says it is enough and bangs the gavel. Next item please . . . This has got the goat of the other members, now ribbed as the “silent majority” (eight members) because they couldn’t get a single ordinance passed in the face of such stonewalling by the opposition (four members). In last Friday’s session (June 27), a special one at that, nothing again came out of the deliberation as an opposition member moved to postpone the item, seconded by another, followed by the authoritative, if premature, banging of the gavel amid a chorus of objections. Both items in the calendar of business, certified urgent by the City Mayor, are left unacted upon. Before the majority could take another breath, there’s a motion to adjourn by an opposition member, duly seconded, and bam! Session adjourned. When the livid majority point out there were objections, the Presiding Officer said, a la Senator Pangilinan during the 2004 canvassing of votes by the PET, "Noted."
Saying enough’s enough, the majority decided to go on with the session, elected their own Temporary Presiding Officer and Secretary, and disposed of the items in the agenda.
Was there an illegal adjournment justifying the act of the majority to continue holding session? Looks like an administrative/criminal case is in the works.
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Posted by KamaongBato on 2008-07-05 08:14:59 | Rating: | Views: 35
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