In last Wednesday's column, we just mentioned in stride what transpired during the regular session of the 10th Sangguniang Panlungsod last Monday as we opted to transfer our SP updates from Sundays to Wednesdays.

In that column, we wrote in passing the privilege speech delivered by City Councilor Djingo Rama regarding the operation of the Botika sa Katawhan and connecting the same to the collection of stall rentals at the city port. Rama concluded his privilege speech with a motion calling for an investigation on the operation of the Botika sa Katawhan.

Unknowingly, Rama's privilege speech stirred the hornet's nest and may end up with a showdown in tomorrow's regular session of the city council.

* * * * * * * *

In yesterday's Mayor's Report over Station DYRD, City Mayor Dan Lim announced that businessman Mario Uy, whom the city mayor conferred the honorary title as his deputy mayor, is closing the Botika sa Katawhan, a private undertaking duly recognized by the city government, in the wake of Rama's move to have its operation investigated.

So the people may know, particularly the beneficiaries of the Botika sa Katawhan, we are now constrained to give our readers an idea on what actually transpired during the regular session last Monday.

What we are scribing here can be verified from the journal of proceedings of the city council.

* * * * * * * *

On the item "Other Matters" just before adjournment, City Councilor Edgar R. Bompat, SP majority floorleader, moved to have Rama obtain the floor. Upon recognition by Vice-Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, SP presiding officer, Rama stood up on a question of personal and collective privilege.

Under the SP internal rules of procedure, there is a time allotted for privilege speeches but Rama gained the acquiescence of the other city councilors just the same.

In summary, Rama cited the laudable effort of Mario Uy in undertaking the Botika sa Katawhan but stressed that there are now reports questioning on how it is being run. In fact, he mentioned in his privilege speech that Uy is also the same person who is collecting rentals at the stalls in the city wharf without issuing official receipts. He then called for a probe on the Botika sa Katawhan.

* * * * * * * *

Under parliamentary rules, after a privilege speech is being delivered, the speaker opens himself up for interpellation. So this writer stood up to interpellate Rama. First, we asked Rama if there are formal complaints being lodged against the Botika sa Katawhan for which he answered in the negative.

Then we asked him why he linked the Botika sa Katawhan with the rentals of the stalls at the city wharf which he had been exposing complete with pictures in another local newspaper the other week. Rama said that the stall rentals are being used for the Botika sa Katawhan.

Finally, we asked Rama if during the time that he was involved in the management of the stalls at the city wharf several years back, did they also issue official receipts.

* * * * * * *

At this juncture, Rama insisted that there must be no comparison between his time and Uy's time in managing the stalls at the city wharf. He even anticipated that our discussion may even lead to the issue of some bouncing checks during that time.

City Councilor Edgar Kapirig joined the interpellation and came to the rescue of Rama by saying that our line of questioning was out of context for which we immediately excepted and reminded Kapirig to refrain from joining the discussion because of conflict of interest by reason of the criminal case between him and Uy.

Then City Councilor Oscar Glovasa raised the point that Rama's call for probing the Botika sa Katawhan cannot hold water unless there is a verified complaint executed under oath filed before the city sanggunian. Rama then held Kapirig's counter-affidavit, which he said is "under oath", filed with the city prosecutor's office in relation to the libel case lodged against Kapirig by Uy wherein the former mentioned about questions pertaining to the operation of the Botika sa Katawhan.

* * * * * * * *

We stood up again to prevent the reading of such counter-affidavit because it is not the kind of verified complaint referred to by Glovasa and secondly, it would be tantamount to dragging the city sanggunian into the personal conflict between Uy and Kapirig. We also reminded Rama that unlike senators and congressmen who are covered with parliamentary immunity, local legislators could be held criminally, civilly or administratively liable for our utterances during sessions.

City Councilors Edi Borja and Anne Mariquit D. Oppus also joined the discussion. City Councilor Nerio Zamora II also said that Rama's privilege speech should not have been entertained in the first place for being made not within the time allotted for privilege speeches.

Oppus asked Rama to have his motion to investigate the Botika sa Katawhan be reduced into writing in a form of a resolution so that it could be duly acted upon by the sanggunian upon which Rama undertook to do. The session was then adjourned.

* * * * * * * *

For comments and suggestions, just e-mail to the following e-mail addresses: obiter@boholchronicle.com