By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Amid claims a US trip by certain members of the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) was conducted without a travel order, the city officials, who are in California for 16 days, insisted their trip is “justified.”

Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, along with Grupo Progreso members of the local legislative body, namely City Councilors Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, Dindo Ramos, and Bartolome Orola, left for Long Beach, California last week. The coastal locality renewed its “sister city” agreement with Bacolod City last year.

According to a press statement issued by the overseas officials, they were provided travel authority by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Familiaran, which was approved by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Austere Panadero.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Councilor Claudio Jesus ‘Kalaw’ Puentevella said he will follow-up with DILG regarding the matter, pointing out, they were unable to conduct a formal SP session as they could not make quorum.

With the six city councilors abroad, two others on leave, and City Councilor Ricardo Tan serving as acting vice mayor, there were five members present at the recent session.

Despite the circumstances, the said statement insisted the remaining members would constitute quorum.

The statement did, however, point out, if at least one member was not present then they could not make quororm, to which the statement noted, “It is beyond our control.”/DGB, WDJ