(In answer to the privilege speech delivered by Board Member Ae Damalerio which we featured here last Sunday, we are also re-printing here the privilege speech we delivered during the regular session of the Sangguning Panlungsod of Tagbilaran last Monday- DAB)

"Mr. Chairman, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Based on my collective and personal privilege, I stand before you this afternoon if only to rise to the occasion wherein the very institution that we represent is the object of a scathing privilege speech by a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol pertaining to the city's drainage problem.

But at the outset, let it be stressed that there is nothing personal here when I take the cudgel of answering the privilege speech of Board Member Ae Damalerio who is not only a good friend but also a neighbor in our highly-diversified community in Lindaville Subdivision Phase 2 this city. I had the opportunity to work with Damalerio's father, the late Alfonso Damalerio, whom I hold great respect because of his politically savvy and finis.

The privilege speech delivered by Mr. Damalerio during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week surprised me a lot because as a board member representing the first district of Bohol, I though that it would be more proper for him to tackle about the opposition to the Panglao Bohol International Airport Development Project, the sanitary landfill in Alburquerque, the rape-slaying in Panglao or even the low quality of life in Balilihan town.

I never entertained the idea that he would still be casting a moist eye to the city hall after he lost in his bid to run for city councilor many years back. In responding to Damalerio's tirades against the present city hall dispensation over the drainage problem, I appeal to my esteemed colleagues in this August Body to take Damalerio's privilege speech as if it was directed to us all elected officials in the city.

Damalerio's privilege speech hit us first before giving us the opportunity to explain. He criticized us first then conducted a committee hearing later on. We need not lecture him about the autonomy of local government units, about the principle of consultation among LGUs and most importantly, of respect and protocol. Apparently, he is wanting of these.

Consider the following: he accused us of simply mouthing our thoughts, that what we have are only verbal solutions to the drainage problem, that our solutions created more problems, that in effect, our city consultant, Engr. Cecil Corloncito, who is an ISO-accredited environmental engineer, is incompetent, that the city ordinance we adopted is inutile, that our proposal for a polluter's fee is misplaced, that the waste water treatment facility at the drainage outfall in San Jose street is illegal, that we do not have a clear direction as to how we establish the water treatment facility, that that city mayor is not studying the matter seriously - and the litany could go ad infinitum.

My dear colleagues, Damalerio's tirades is to the effect that it is as if we do not know what we are doing here. That the city mayor does not know and is not doing anything, that the city vice-mayor is not doing anything and that we are not doing anything.

And, for his credit, he now tells us that all that he wanted to do is to be of help.

Excuse me, Mr. Damalerio, your help is not welcome with the way you want to help.

Worse, he hit all of us, and we should feel being all being hit, while at the same time glorified his political patrons. Is this the kind of gesture that we expect from a provincial official?

I therefore denounce in the strongest terms the actuations and allegations of Mr. Damalerio in his irresponsible privilege speech last week which not only created a very bad precedence in local governance but was also done in a very bad political taste and bordering from his political arrogance steered perhaps of the crest of his congressional backings or due to his brutal ignorance and for being simply naïve.

It is my sincere belief and conviction Mr. Chairman that Mr. Damalerio owe and apology to the city officialdom for such irresponsible actuation. Otherwise, I will be constrained to file a resolution in order to declare him persona non grata. But for starters, I end this elucidation Mr. Chairman with a motion for the Committee on Environmental Protection and Development to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, in order to call Mr. Damalerio and require him to explain for his actuation. So move Mr. Chairman. Thank you."

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