ANOTHER heated argument between San Simon town Vice Mayor Leonora Wong and Councilor Romanoel "Dading" Santos transpired during a regular session held September 22.
The said session conducted via Zoom app was recorded live on Wong's Facebook account and already has about 3,700 views.
The local officials were debating about the possibility of resuming face-to-face sessions as the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resorted to virtual sessions since the start of the pandemic.
According to Santos, he motioned for the resumption of physical sessions to better perform their duties of crafting measures and resolutions.
He said virtual sessions sometimes slows down the process and even cause misunderstandings due to poor signal from other councilors.
"I do not see any more reason not to hold face-to-face sessions since we are not restricted by safety protocols anymore provided that we have a safe distance from each other and I know that our session hall is big enough to accommodate us. Besides, it is only once a week," the councilor said.
Wong, however, suggested to continue virtual sessions as the threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is still active.
The vice mayor cited a legal opinion that said holding sessions via online platform is still more advisable in this type of situation.
Santos then told Wong she should not participate in the debate as her role is to preside over the sessions only unless she will relinquish herself from the post.
This was when Wong seemed to be irritated and started cursing at Santos and told him to stop dictating her.
"Konsehal ot tuturu mu ku? Ninu wari ing byasa keka tamung adwa? Presiding officer ku e, ika mag-vice mayor ka pa (Councilor, why are you teaching me? Who is brighter between us? I am the presiding officer, you try to run for vice mayor first)," Wong told Santos.
"Attack mu na ku e (you are already attacking me). B***s***. You are nothing but s***," the vice mayor said.
The discussion continued for more than five minutes until Wong adjourned the session without proper resolution on the motion.
In an interview, Santos said he was insulted and shocked by the way Wong treated him but had to let go of it.
"I do not want to engage in such kind of discussion because I believe we can settle it in an honorable way. I only wanted what I think is best for us and the people, so I wanted to do it in an honorable manner," he said.
He added he continues to perform his duties as a legislator and public servant alongside Wong in and out of sessions.
"I understand that we sometimes get caught by our emotions but we do not need to fight. I always try to understand our vice mayor and I always pray that all our sessions will go smoothly each time," Santos said.
Wong admitted that she threw curses at Santos but only because she was provoked.
She said Santos has been pushing for face-to-face sessions because the councilor knows she cannot attend due to her precautions against Covid-19.
"They are trying to eliminate me so that they can do whatever they want and that is the truth," she claimed.
The vice mayor said since the start of the pandemic, most of the sessions were allotted to hearing resolutions about the reclassification of lands and providing supplementary budgets.
She said she was sharing legal opinions to the councilors to guide the legislative body.
