BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Acting Vice Mayor Ricardo Tan should not blame him for the lack of quorum in the City Council's last two sessions.
Leonardia defended himself after Tan cited him for the absence of several councilors in the July 25 and August 5 regular sessions.
Leonardia said he only signed the official leave of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran while the leave of six other councilors, who were on an official trip to Long Beach, California, was signed by Familiaran and Tan.
Those on leave are: Caesar Distrito, Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero and Dindo Ramos while the leave of Councilors Em Ang and Bartolome Orola were signed by Tan.
"I only signed the travel of Familiaran and it was Tan who approved the travel of the two councilors. So why is he blaming me that they do not have a quorum," he said.
Tan earlier said Leonardia is responsible for this incident because as mayor, he could have advised his group not to travel together.
"It only shows that Tan didn't understand his work. The absence of Familiaran and the six councilors is not the direct reason that they do not have a quorum. When they left, there was supposed to be a quorum but the two councilors were also on leave," Leonardia said.
He said not all the Grupo Progreso councilors were on official travel because Councilors Sy and Ayesha Joy Villaflor are here.
"It is because of poor leadership he (Tan) failed to gather for a quorum. He should not blame (me) the trip of the other officials because he also signed the travel of the two councilors. He made the statement which is so funny," he added.
Leonardia said the official trip of the city officials will gain more for the city.
The councilors, he said, used their personal money for the trip. No government funds were involved, he added.
