BY FELIPE CELINO
ROXAS City — After almost six months, the barangay council of Libas here finally held another session on Saturday.
All barangay kagawads — except for Barangay Captain Richard Arrojado, who was in Iloilo for an official travel — attended the session at the Teen Center here.
The session was the barangay council’s first since Arrojado assumed his post after serving a 60-day suspension meted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Kagawad Rodem Agnas, said to be allied with majority bloc leader Kagawad Solomon Alisasis, was designated as acting presiding officer.
Several issues were tackled in the session, among which were the barangay’s drainage projects, 20-percent development fund, and the barangay officials’ honorarium.
The kagawads agreed to hold another session with Arrojado.
During a mediation that the City Council Committee on Laws and Ordinances, headed by Councilor Julius Abela, conducted two weeks ago, majority of the kagawads agreed to hold sessions at the Teen Center.
However, the rift with the majority bloc in the council can hardly be considered over. Alisasis, leader of the majority, admitted this himself.
“The row is not yet over. There are several things we need to tackle,” he said.
Alisasis mentioned the honoraria of the barangay officials and the unapproved 2012 budget, among others.
After the dialog, however, Arrojado clarified he won’t allow the majority bloc to dictate him all the time.
“I’m not the majority’s yes man. Villagers who trusted me with their votes expect a lot from me,” he said.
Arrojado is up against the majority bloc made up of seven barangay councilmen.
A pro-Arrojado council member, Myrna Abareles, accused Alisasis and his group of sowing trouble in the council.
Alisasis is a supporter of Mayor Angel Alan Celino. He used to be the village chief of Libas. Arrojado defeated him in the 2010 barangay polls.
Celino appointed Alisasis to the barangay council of Libas in December 2011 following the demise of barangay councilman Elvie Bolojabo.
Middle of last year, Celino suspended Arrojado for 60 days.
It stemmed from the case filed by Alisasis against Arrojado for alleged abuse of authority and grave misconduct.
Arrojado did not right away recognize Alisasis as member of the Libas barangay council when Celino appointed him.
