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Shortly after we
delivered our privilege speech in reply to the privilege speech of Board Member
Ae Damalerio, we have been subjected to a barrage of text brigades and media attacks
giving more emphasis on our threat to pass a resolution declaring him persona
non grata instead of the substance and purpose of our privilege speech.
Our
absence during the meeting of the Committee of the Whole last Friday was also
given malicious undertones. No matter how we shall offer justification to our
absence, the same would not be given merit as we have been prejudged.
The
rationale behind our privilege speech was simple: that we have to answer Damalerio's
tirade about the city government's alleged inaction over the city's drainage problem.
Otherwise, it would have been a case of admission by silence.
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In
fact, most of our colleagues disagree with Damalerio's allegations in his privilege
speech. We also emphasized in our privilege speech that it was our personal belief
and conviction that Damalerio owe an apology to the city officialdom.
It
is our considered opinion that while it may be a right of every citizen to criticize
or offer assistance to a public concern like the drainage problem, this does not
merit a privilege speech in the halls of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan more so
with Damalerio who is a known protégée of Cong. Edgar Chatto, whose
brother-in-law, Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso is at odds, politically speaking,
with City Mayor Dan Lim.
But
our responsive action is now used as an instrument to project a media war down
to the level of character assassination not to mention the text brigades and black
propaganda against us. We humbly admit that we do not have the same media prowess
and resources to turn the tables in our favor.
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Unrelenting,
our good friend Board Member Ae Damalerio sent a letter to all the members of
the Sangguniang Panlungsod through Vice Mayor Veloso which was read during our
regular session last Monday.
After
hearing the contents of his letter, we felt that his reaction had already gone
too far, i.e. by comparing the Balilihan market with the Agora, that he garnered
3,000 more votes during the last elections even if we ran in different positions
and that we are a "loudspeaker" (one of our colleagues quipped: "Look
whose talking") and the like.
In
closing, Damalerio stood firm that he would not seek an apology. He said he would
only do so if it would solve the drainage problem. Fine, we have to respect his
stand even if as far as we are concerned, damaged has been done.
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Let
it be stressed here that we are not taking the bait of promoting a hate campaign
between Board Member Damalerio and this writer. In the first place, we belong
to different levels, whatever that means.
Second,
we are just consoled with the letter of Vice Gov. Julius Caesar F. Herrera to
Mayor Dan Lim copy furnished to all the members of the city sanggunian which we
shall print here in full on Sunday.
In
the meantime, we moved at the end of our regular session last Monday, which was
duly second and unanimously approved, to have Damalerio's peppery letter, be lovingly
consigned to the archives. End of story.
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