Moises Padilla seeks help from DILG and Prov’l SP for its 2022 Annual Budget

The local government of Moises Padilla is now seeking help from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlugsod (SP) regarding its 2022 Annual Budget since the majority of its Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members are unable to attend the session.

In her letter addressed to DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año dated October 27, 2021, the town’s mayor, Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, requests for the department’s legal opinion on the present circumstance of the SB wherein they only have six active members since four are currently detained at the Moises Padilla Police Station and at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Bacolod City, while another SB Member is currently on leave with a pending warrant of arrest.

She also said that the six remaining members include the Acting Vice Mayor who became the presiding officer during a session, leaving only five members who are authorized to vote.

The mayor is also asking about the possible course of action that its local government may take in case the Sangguniang Bayan lacks the required number of members present to act on the 2022 Annual Budget.

The request of the mayor to the DILG Secretary comes after she made the same request to DILG Region 6 on September 13, 2021, but has yet to receive any response up to date.

In an interview with Digicast Negros, the mayor said that if the budget will be reenacted, government programs will be impaired which will affect their residents.

She also said that the three councilors and the vice mayor are about to bail, which they are waiting for, and that the DILG should already take action on their present situation.

Meanwhile, the town’s SB issued Resolution No. 2021-535 on October 27, 2021, requesting the SP to help the municipality in resolving the issue of temporary vacancies in the council which cannot constitute a majority vote of all its members when needed due to legal reason contemplated under Section 46 of Republic Act 7160.

It can be recalled that in August of this year, Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor and town councilor Jimmie Don Plaza surrendered to Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and are currently detained at the NBI office in Bacolod City while SB Members Vincent

Bryan Garcia and Jose Morito Flores surrendered at the PNP Moises Padilla Station.

All four are allegedly involved in the murder of SB Member Jolomar Hilario in 2019.

A warrant of arrest was also served by PNP Moises Padilla to SB Member Fred V. Bangcaya, Sr. on October 28, for alleged rape, in his place of residence but he was nowhere to be found.

The warrant was signed by Acting Presiding Judge Anthony Ateniao Dumpilo of RTC Branch 64 in64 in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.* (PR from MP Mayor’s Office)